International Charity hospital, Mercy Ships has provided update about their field service in Sierra Leone and warned against individuals that are asking people for money in exchange for registration for surgery on board.
They made this stance in a statement issued on Wednesday 25 October 2023.
Mercy Ships noted that their field service in Sierra Leone is well underway, with surgeries already delivered in the areas of maxillofacial and ENT, reconstructive plastics, and general surgery.
The International charity Mercy Ships and the Ministry of Health would like to inform the public that for the current field service in Sierra Leone, the patient selection process was completed across the country in the months leading up to the Global Mercy’s arrival.
Mercy Ships noted that due to the need to ensure that the necessary medical personnel could be scheduled and planned for this field service, the surgery schedule was already full by the time the ship arrived in Freetown.
“We have been made aware that individuals are asking people for money in exchange for registration for surgery on board the charity’s hospital ship. We would like to remind the public that Mercy Ships operates to serve others and would never perform surgery in return for payment. All surgeries are delivered free of charge,” they noted.
“The selected patients who will receive further assessment for surgery on board the hospital ship have received confirmation of their status as upcoming patients via phone call. Only patients with an official invitation should go to the ship.:
Over the next 8 months, Mercy Ships’ volunteer professionals will continue delivering a surgical programme. The advance patient selection ensures that expert staffing levels are satisfied for the complete safety of our patients.
In conclusion, the Ministry of Health and Mercy Ships reiterated that no one should pay in hopes of securing surgery.
