Hospitality Center
Approximately two blocks from the port of Cotonou, where the Africa Mercy is currently docked, is a warehouse. In the past five weeks, it has undergone a tremendous transformation.
Now referred to as the Hospitality Center (HC), it functions primarily as a non-medical, temporary housing unit for pre-and-post-op patients and their caregivers. It consists of two air-conditioned wards with room for 76 beds, as well as bathroom facilities containing showers and flush-toilets. The Center also houses the Dockside OP Eye and Physical Therapy Units.
Once patients have been screened and approved, they are generally admitted onto the ship the day before their surgery. However, sometimes patients are not strong enough or healthy enough to undergo a complex medical procedure. If this is the case, patients are admitted to the Hospitality Center to stay until deemed fit for surgery. During this time, they will be given three healthy meals a day, clean drinking water, and a comfortable bed – complete with a mosquito net.
Approximately two blocks from the port of Cotonou, where the Africa Mercy is currently docked, is a warehouse. In the past five weeks, it has undergone a tremendous transformation.
Now referred to as the Hospitality Center (HC), it functions primarily as a non-medical, temporary housing unit for pre-and-post-op patients and their caregivers. It consists of two air-conditioned wards with room for 76 beds, as well as bathroom facilities containing showers and flush-toilets. The Center also houses the Dockside OP Eye and Physical Therapy Units.
Once patients have been screened and approved, they are generally admitted onto the ship the day before their surgery. However, sometimes patients are not strong enough or healthy enough to undergo a complex medical procedure. If this is the case, patients are admitted to the Hospitality Center to stay until deemed fit for surgery. During this time, they will be given three healthy meals a day, clean drinking water, and a comfortable bed – complete with a mosquito net.
Likewise, once patients are stabilized after surgery and no longer need immediate care, they are moved to the Hospitality Center. They are able to return to the ship for daily or weekly treatment and follow-ups. Mercy Ships provides the transportation – a ship vehicle fitted with a light and siren and with sufficient space to carry a stretcher and five seated patients. It is on constant standby in case of an emergency.
“The idea is for the patients to become more acquainted with Western systems,” said Hospital Manager William E. Martin. “If patients can be kept nourished, hydrated, and malaria-free, before and after their surgery, their recovery will ultimately be quicker.”
The major benefit of the Hospitality Center is that the beds in the ship’s hospital wards become available more quickly. This means that surgeons can perform more surgeries – and, ultimately, more people are helped. In other words, our impact is greatly increased!
Brandon Winebark, HC Coordinator, oversaw the construction process that got the warehouse to its current state. Walls were erected, roofs were constructed, and plumbing for bathrooms and toilets was installed. To make the area secure, a fence with security gates was put up around the property. Electrical wiring was laid for lights and air-conditioning. Because of regular power cuts in Cotonou, it was imperative to install a generator as a backup power supply.
All this was achieved with the combined help of the Electrical and Construction Departments of the Africa Mercy, as well as the hard work of Mercy Teams – particularly Mike Palmer, who sourced most of the materials from hardware stores in Cotonou. Dean Martin helped with the initial management of the site before Brandon took over full-time. The willingness of volunteers, both crew and locals, has sped the process along.
“We had 25 Mercy Ships volunteers that came out one weekend to assist us. That was a real blessing. They really helped us,” said Brandon.
Brandon’s job currently involves the management of 8 day volunteers, 4 generator operators, and 4 security guards, as well as the coordination of patients and supplies to and from the ship. Anastasie Nlemvo, an Africa Mercy crew member, is responsible for teaching the day volunteers basic nursing skills, as well as the overall care of the patients.
Still in its early stages, there are routines and procedures that need to be put in place. The HC is a relatively new concept for Mercy Ships. Brandon and his team are learning as they go.
“We are still trying to figure out what works and what doesn’t work,” he said. Brandon’s goal is to get the HC running efficiently and effectively. He added, “So far things are going well.”
The Hospitality Center is already proving its effectiveness by accommodating 20 women suffering with VVF who travelled from the north of Benin. Also, a 10-week-old baby is gaining weight before he undergoes corrective surgery on his cleft lip.
The Hospitality Center is already proving to be a valuable tool in delivering hope and healing to the world’s poor, and, if possible, will be implemented in future fields of service.
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