Sunday, March 27, 2011


Our first days were busy preparing for the screening day scheduled for Monday, March 2,2011. Each outreach when we arrive at a new country we plan one or two screening days were thousands of people line up and we are able to screen the surgical candidates and fill the surgical schedule for the ten months the ship is docked.
We knew we would have our challenges in the war torn country of Sierra Leone, where there is a generation of young boys whose father figures were war lords who kept them in a drug induced state in order for them to committ atroucities of war.
The day did not go as planned. It turned out to be a challenging, heart wrenching day. "A very sad incident occurred in the course of screening activities today in Freetown, Sierra Leone. Sometime after 9:30 events yet to be conclusively determined occurred to agitate the crowd and cause it to storm the gate. In response 200 more people were admitted to relieve pressure, but tragically 13 were injured, including one fatality and two life threatening situations. Mercy Ships personnel on site cared for the victims and accompanied them to hospitals. No Mercy Ships personnel was injured. Ongoing investigation will determine the facts. Please keep the individuals affected and their families in prayer, and pray also for the entire crew. This is certainly a time to pray and believe that God will work all things together for good in this tragic situation."

1 comment:

Michelle said...

Oh wow, Hettie, I'm so sorry. How scary. I am praying for you and for all of your patients.