Screening Day #2 – We rolled out of bed at 4:15 and our convoy of land rovers hit the streets at 4:45 headed to the abandoned UN compound for another try at screening. It's surreal driving the streets of Freetown in the early morning hours. There were a smattering of people sitting on the sidewalks with candles, an occasional lone light bulb hanging from a post illuminating rusty tin siding. Just another reason they call Africa the dark continent. Its' striking how sparse electricity is. We arrived at the compound and set up stations to receive the masses of club feet, deformed legs, burns, cleft pallets, goiters, and other strange growths and disfigurements. This time the Sierra Leone Army patrolled the compound and the screening process went very peacefully. Once again, thousands of people came in the hopes of being selected for medical attention; about 400-500 were chosen for the types of surgeries offered on ship. (orthopedics, maxillofacial, plastics, & general). Everything went very smoothly and the crowds of people were very peaceful. Below are some images of the day!
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| Loading up dockside to head for the UN Compound! |
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| Leading patients into the compound. |
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| Many have traveled considerable distance and used what little resources they have to try to get medical help. |
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| The queue is close to 2,000 people long! |
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| He is very excited to be one of the fortunate ones to receive the Admission Card! |
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| This is why we are here! |
Wow Jackie. I don't know what to say. I love that you are doing this. Truly. I want to hug you. Thank you for your service.
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