The minister of Health and Sanitation, Dr Soccoh Kabia, has commended staff of Mercy Ships and Rotary Club for the construction of the Aberdeen Fistula Centre.
During a tour of the centre on Tuesday, the minister said “I am impressed with the work and assistance Mercy Ship is offering to women, young girls and children in the country and I appreciate it a lot.”
Making a conducted tour of the centre, Dr Kabia was able to meet with over 50 vesico vaginal fistula patients who have undergone operations.
Mr Christopher Foster, a representative from Rotary Club of Freetown, said his organization had a long standing relationship with Mercy Ships for the implementation of the Rotary International matching grant.
The Aberdeen West African Fistula Centre is dedicated to the needs of women and children, and provides surgeries to address obstetric fistula and other childbirth related injuries.
The Mercy Ships Fistula Centre was opened in May 2004, and delivers services in two core areas: surgical repairs of obstetric fistulas and operating an outpatient clinic for children.
According to Mercy Ship’s country director, Rena Lako, the fistula centre had performed over 500 surgeries and over 6,000,000 pediatric consultations over a twelve month period.