President Boni welcomes Mercy Ships

03.03.2009- The President of Benin visited the Africa Mercy to express hope for increasing access to health care for the poor in the nation of Benin.

During the Mercy Ship’s first week of surgeries in their nation, the President of Benin, Dr. Thomas Yayi Boni, and several cabinet ministers visited the Africa Mercy to express hope for increasing access to health care for the poor in the nation of Benin.  

President Boni emphasized the contribution Mercy Ships is making to his government’s effort in providing better access to health care.  He spoke briefly about the ‘Millennium Challenge,’ a government initiative that seeks to provide improved access and infrastructure to the people of Benin.

“Our ambition is to bring health to everyone here [in Benin].That is why we are so grateful you have come. Everything you are doing enters perfectly into what we would like for Benin,” explained President Boni in his address to the crew onboard. 

In his speech, the President quoted from Psalm 41: ‘Blessed is he that considers the poor.’ He mentioned his gratitude for the determination Mercy Ships showed in reaching out through additional screenings held in the North of Benin shortly after the ship docked.  Screenings near the port of Cotonou were attended by more than 5,000 people seeking help.