The Africa Mercy, the largest of the Mercy Ship vessels is currently docked on the east-coast of Madagascar, in the Indian Ocean, and Montreal pediatric surgeon, Dr. Sherif Emil is finishing up his first two-week, volunteer experience.
After twelve days of work he describes as very intense, he says he will return. “The spirit of the place is infectious.” he says, and pardoning the pun!
ListenDr. Emil performed 50 surgeries so far, and one particularly exceptional case, on a four-month-old baby girl with a massive tumour, twice the size of her little head! The ship had not undertaken a surgery of this kind before, and preperations were necessary, but Dr. Emil is happy to say she’s now doing well.
The island of Madagascar is home to 22 million people with just four paediatric surgeons. So Dr. Emil’s skills are much appreciated. When asked about the gratitude of the parents, he describes the stoic nature of the people but he says you can see it in their eyes.
Many of the hernia surgeries he’s performed would be regular events, and caught early in the Canadian healthcare system. In Africa, he says, the conditions can continue to plague the children and if not treated, eventually kill them in childhood.
“It’s a lot more intense, I operate every single day, I mean in Montreal l would operate once a week.”
The ship has a crew of 420 people, with a Canadian contingent of 40, many of whom have been on board for years. Dr. Emil was enthusiastic in his praise and his pride in the work of the Canadians, some of whom are nurses, and the pharmacist.
But he is equally impressed with the entire crew. “The community of people who run this ship, not just physicians and nurses, we’re talking cooks and technical people and college students who volunteer to be housekeepers,” he says. “It’s just such a fantastic place.”
There are 10 doctors and 60 nurses, who also rotate in and volunteer their time. Usually the missions last about 10 months in each location.
Dr. Emil returns to Montreal this weekend. The Africa Mercy remains in port in Madagascar until the end of June. Then it docks in Durban, South Africa for servicing for two weeks. It’s next port of call will be off the coast of Benin, followed by a stay on the coast of Cameroon.
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