Stephan Vanfleteren

Mafoule Fofana, 12, has deformed hands and legs.'At birth, my feet were already reversed and my hands were missing some fingers. I am afraid that the doctors can't solve my hands but I hope they will find a way to set my feet right. I want to know how it feels to walk straight.'Guinea is one of the least developed countries in the world. More than 60 % of the population lives below the poverty line of USD 1 per day. Three quarters of the population is illiterate. Public healthcare is minimal and unaffordable for most people. This series of portraits is of people with various diseases and conditions who have come to seek help from the NGO Mercy Ship. Mercy Ship is an international charity which operates a hospital ship that provides free health care, community projects, health education and other programmes to people in developing world countries. The doctors and nurses on the ship work voluntarily.