08 March 2011

A mercy mission turned deadly at a medical screening in the African nation of Sierra Leone on Monday. Crowds waiting for medical attention became impatient at a stadium where staff from the 500-foot non-governmental hospital ship Africa Mercy was preparing to screen patients for medical attention.

The crow                                                                Courtesy Photo
A crowd greets the Africa Mercy ship in Sierra Leone as it arrives Sunday. At least one person was killed and 11 others injured in a stampede that took place during a Mercy Ships clinic in Freetown, Sierra Leone, on Monday.d broke through a restraining fence, surging forward trampling those who fell. Up to 11 people were injured and one person has died. There were no reports on how serious the injuries sustained were, or if any were life-threatening.

Local police were on hand for crowd control, but were outnumbered and overwhelmed by the occurrence, said a release from Mercy Ships, headquartered in Garden Valley, Texas.

Don Stephens, president and CEO of the charity Mercy Ships said the crowd “stormed the gates resulting in several injuries and one life lost. Mercy Ships personnel working at the site attended the injured and accompanied them to local hospitals.”

The state of the art medical ship, with a crew and medical staff representing about 40 nations, had just arrived in Freetown on Sunday for a one-year term of service amid much celebration, welcoming and high hopes. Today the atmosphere is more somber said Stephens, but the organizations missionaries are undeterred.

“We are deeply saddened by the tragic events occurring today during medial screening,” Stephens said. “Our hearts and prayers are with the individuals and families affected. The occurrence of this incident in the course of activities intended to restore lives is tragic. We move forward with tremendous sadness, but great determination to assist as many people as possible in the next 10 months."

Mercy Ships will be providing surgeries for qualified patients while working alongside the Sierra Leone government to support its five-year health-care plan and strengthen the functions of the national health system, Stephens said.

 

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