One in five Australians are faced with ‘unacceptable’ waiting times for their GP. But is a few days’ wait a real problem or just a #FirstWorldProblem?
Imagine there wasn’t a doctor. Imagine even if there was a doctor, you had to sell everything you own, travel for days, then join a queue of thousands just to see that doctor. Thankfully this isn’t a reality for Australians. But for people living in Africa it is.
More than 70% of the world’s population is unable to access safe and affordable surgical care. As a result, 18 million people die needlessly each year and many common, treatable illnesses become life-threatening.
Let’s put #WorldProblemsFirst as we address this global health crisis.
Health conditions such as benign tumours, cleft palates, and bowlegs which in countries like Australia would be diagnosed and treated early, are commonplace in Africa and often go unchecked for decades, leaving people to suffer unnecessarily.
Guinean woman Charity did not have access to medical treatment and as her facial tumour grew to the same size as her head. She hid her face with her shawl as she was constantly shunned by her community.
Thankfully her tumour was removed successfully on board Mercy Ship and Charity was able to recover quickly from her life-changing operation. The effect of an untreated tumour in Charity’s case would be death. Now her life is saved.
If you want to be a part of changing lives, the time to act is now. Let’s work together to address this global health crisis. Donate today at mercyships.org.au/give/worldproblemsfirst
Source: The Productivity Commission 2019, The Lancet
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