Stephan Vanfleteren

Mamadou Saliou Barry, 20, has neurofibromatosis on his face and legs. Neurofibromatosis is a condition where nerve tissue grows tumors (or neurofibromas) which can result in unusual skin discolouration or bumps on the skin.'Five years ago a gate fell on my head. Then my right leg started to hurt as well. Because my leg got so heavy, I found it difficult to walk. When I inquired about this I was told that it was not a head injurty but a severe skin disease.'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.