A team of 30 surgeons and doctors with the Mercy Ship, a leading non-governmental ship-based medical organization in the world, is part of a crew of volunteers drawn from all parts of the globe. They have arrived in the country for an intensive six weeks of free medical treatment programme for Gambians.
Speaking to journalists at a press briefing held at the America Corner, which also coincided with a lecture and presentation conducted by Dr. Giles, the head of the team, said their mission to the
"The Africa Mercy Ship, which docked at the port in
According to him, they will during their stay be providing surgery and screening for cleft lip patients at no cost, and people willing to attend can come to Polyclinic in Banjul on Wednesdays and Thursdays.
He noted that the Mercy Ships were created to transform people's lives, that is, of the world’s forgotten poor. He added that Mercy Ships operate as hospital ships, and land-based teams provide primary medical care, relief aid and community support to the most impoverished people on earth, free of charge.
Dr. Giles who is a specialist in reconstructing head and neck injuries after an accident, also told journalists, in a post lecture interview, that they have a lot of sophisticated medical equipment that they use to carry out operations and surgery.
"We realized that there is need for this surgery in the
Dilating on the importance of the mission, Giles told journalists that their mission seeks to treat people who have cleft lip and palate, because they needed the treatment, adding that they will do a capacity-building programme for nurses who will in turn help the patients.
Their mission, he went on, will give them the opportunity to forge a strong partnership with the Ministry of Health and, in particular, Royal Victoria Teaching Hospital.
The Mercy Ship delegation also, on the same day, briefed the