Blog

Benin

Mercy Ships has visited the country five times with the Anastasis and Africa Mercy. Together with local partners, we run a number of development programmes that bring lasting improvements to the nation.

Capital city

Porto-Novo

Area

114.763 km²

Poverty

38.5% of the population lives below the poverty line of $2 a day

UN Development Index

Ranking: 166 out of 191

Population figures

13 million

Doctors per million inhabitants

160

Languages

Fon, Yom, Yoruba, and French

Mission in Benin

Mercy Ships in Benin

Mercy Ships has visited Benin five times. In 1997, the Anastasis docked in Cotonou, followed by the Africa Mercy in 2001, 2004, 2009.  The most recent field service in 2016 was originally scheduled for 2014, but was postponed due to a major Ebola outbreak in the country.

During the 10-month visits, surgeries were performed on board the ship and Mercy Ships assisted in building medical capacity.

Partnering with Benin's health care leaders as well as health professionals has led to lasting change for the nation.

Overview of the operations delivered by Mercy Ships in Benin in 2016

78

ORTHOPAEDIC SURGERIES

494

MAXILLOFACIAL SURGERIES

182

RECONSTRUCTIVE PLASTIC SURGERIES

451

GENERAL SURGERIES

676

OPHTHALMIC SURGERIES

52

WOMEN’S HEALTH SURGERIES

24

AMBULATORY SURGERIES

Our development programme

Mercy Ship’s medical and nursing staff train hundreds of its own doctors and nurses and organise a range of training courses. Courses are typically in safe surgery according to UN regulations, anaesthesia and advanced emergency care. A ‘Food for Life’ programme trains 30-40 of the country’s trained farmers in sustainable agriculture.

Together we make a difference in Africa!

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