The disease is raging out of control across Guinea, Liberia, Sierra Leone and Nigeria despite the sacrificial and dedicated work of Medicins Sans Frontieres (MSF / Doctors Without Borders), Samaritan's Purse, UNICEF, other organisations and local hospitals on the ground. There are doctors, nurses, health care workers, family members and even burial boys risking their own lives to desperately try and bring an end to this endemic by caring for those inflicted with this disease.
I have watched this devastating saga play out from on board the Africa Mercy, where I was (until recently) safely docked in the Canary Islands, off the coast of Northern Africa. I arrived on board seven weeks ago, brimming with anticipation for what the year ahead in Benin would hold. But while I was excitedly flying to this hospital ship, another man was flying anxiously from Liberia to Nigeria in desperate search of quality medical care to treat the deadly Ebola virus he was facing. Ebola had now arrived in Nigeria, less than 100km from the port we were going to be docked at in Benin, and the leadership delayed our departure one week to allow more time to observe the situation. Simultaneously a problem was discovered with the ship's propeller making it necessary to delay our departure to Benin even longer. I don't believe this to be co-incidental. As the Ebola virus slowly spread through Nigeria the leaders of Mercy Ships made the difficult decision to postpone our field service to Benin indefinitely. This was obviously disappointing for the team that have been working so hard to prepare for the ship's arrival to Benin. They had established all the required government relations, built the eye and dental clinics as well as our HOPE (hospital out patient extension) centre and advertised across the country of Benin that a hospital ship would be be coming to offer free life-changing surgery. But the ship is not equipped to handle this virus; our patients stay in shared wards with communal bathrooms and the risk of infecting fellow patients and hospital staff would be too high. We are equipped (very well) as a surgical hospital but not for this kind of infectious disease.
With our first two countries,Guinea and Benin, forced to be cancelled, we began working on Plan C for the ship to return to Congo where we served last year. Then a new strain of Ebola virus emerged in the Democratic Republic of Congo just across the river from where we were planning on screening for patients. Once again, we cancelled our plans. The target destination has continually shifted, until it was entirely out of view. Looking through the thick fog in front of us, the blaring question faced us - where do we go now?
As a crew together with the leadership we have desperately prayed for the nations and people affected by this virus and for those courageously fighting the virus on the front line. We were encouraged by the Chief Medical Officer, Dr. Gary, to seek God individually as to whether we should leave and join the work on the ground with MSF, Samaritans Purse or another organisation. Mercy Ships is an aid organisation that does do incredible work and does provide life-changing surgery however we are not equipped to be fighting this virus on the front line. Many times I've wished we were. However there are other organisations that are and they are on the ground, knee-deep, bravely caring for those affected by this virus. And they desperately need governmental, financial, logistical and personnel help in order to contain this virus and prevent thousands more lives from being infected.
We are currently in the middle of the Atlantic Ocean, sailing past these countries - Guinea, Liberia, Sierra Leone and Nigeria. I can't help but feel a sense of betrayal - should I be there helping? It doesn't seem fair to be sailing past these countries in the safety of my home on board this hospital ship. A hospital ship full of nurses, doctors, anaesthetists, pharmacists, a radiology tech, a lab tech, engineers, cooks, cleaners and so many more. But I have to remind my restless heart with the facts - we are not equipped to respond to this virus. We are however very well equipped to operate as a surgical hospital.
And there are still people we can help, thousands of people in fact, in desperate need of surgical care. The fog has lifted and a destination is now in sight. There is a place where this specialised surgical ship and it's volunteer crew can fulfill the purpose of the ship; to bring hope and healing to the world's forgotten poor. This place is...
Madagascar!
I'm excited for what the next eight months will hold as we serve in this country. This is a country well known for it's beautiful scenery and crazy animals. It's less known however for it's poverty - that for a population of 23 million, there are 92% of which live on less than $2 per day. They have 2 doctors per 10 000 people (Australia has 33 doctors/10 000 people). Similarly there are 57 dental professionals for the whole of Madagascar while Australia has 14 500. The Human Development Index is a rank of countries in order from most developed to least developed. The three subjects which they use to measure this are life expectancy, education and income. Madagascar ranks 155th on the HDI index. To make this hit home, Australia ranks 2nd.
I can't wait to arrive in this country and meet the people of this nation. For now, as I look out at the deep blue ocean surrounding me, I hear the fitting lyrics of "Oceans" play in my head.
The great unknown where feet may fail
And there I find you in the mystery
In oceans deep
My faith will stand.