Dentist goes as volunteer to Liberia

"I was based on the M/V Anastasis, the largest non-government hospital ship in the world, in Monrovia, Liberia" he said.

Liberia has suffered terribly from civil war in the past 20 years and there are very few medical services available to the people. There are only 3 dentists in a country of 3 million people. There is 85% unemployment.

"I was part of a team of 4 dentists, a hygienist, dental nurses, sterilisers, receptionists and translators, who left the ship each morning to carry out dental treatment in a mobile clinic in the city", Paul says. "We would see about 70 patients a day, all with toothache and infections. The needs were huge, as were some of the swollen faces! It was hard work, but to see the big smile and receive the traditional Liberian handshake at the end of treatment, when the pain had gone, made it all worthwhile."

Mercy Ships was founded in 1978 and since then various ships in the Mercy Ships fleet have served in more than 150 ports in developing nations around the world, bringing lasting change to hundred of thousands of lives. M/V Anastasis has 3 operating theatres and a 70 bed ward but will be de-commisioned soon and replaced by a new vessel, the 'Africa Mercy'.

"I was also able to take part in the screening day, where people travel from all over the country to find out if the ship can help them" Paul says. "We saw cleft lips and palates, children with faces eaten away by infection, tumours, and swellings of all descriptions. Many were given appointments for surgery on the ship, which will change their lives".