Mercy Ships

Mercy Ships
Founded 1978
Founder Founder Donald Stephens
Co-Founder Deyon Stephens
Focus Surgery, Healthcare, Development
Location
Area served
 Developing nations in Africa
Key people
 Myron E. Ullman III Chairman
Donald Stephens, president
Slogan Bringing Hope and Healing
Mission To provide free healthcare and improve healthcare delivery systems in the poorest nations
Website www.mercyships.org

Mercy Ships is an international charity that was founded in 1978 by Don and Deyon Stephens. Mercy Ships currently operates the largest non-governmental hospital ship in the world,[1] providing free health care, community development projects, community health education, mental health programs, agriculture projects, and palliative care for terminally ill patients.

Mercy Ships has operated in more than 57 developing nations and 18 developed nations around the world,[2] with a current focus on the countries of Africa.[3]

The organization has its International Operations Center (IOC) in Garden Valley, Texas. Mercy Ships also has 16 national resource offices in countries that include Spain, Britain, Canada, Germany, Switzerland, the Netherlands, South Africa, and Australia.

A major inspiration for Mercy Ships president and founder Don Stephens was the work of the international hospital ship SS Hope. Stephens' research showed that 95 of the 100 largest cities in the world were port cities. Therefore, a hospital ship could deliver healthcare very efficiently to large numbers of people. The birth of Stephens' profoundly disabled son, John Paul, also inspired him to move forward with his vision of a floating hospital. A visit with Mother Teresa in Calcutta, India, further deepened his commitment to serving the world's neediest people.[4]

Mercy Ships

Mercy Ships has outfitted and operated a total of four hospital ships to serve developing nations since 1978. The organization uses retired ocean liners and ferries that have been transformed into floating hospitals.[5]

The first ocean liner acquired was the Victoria, which was purchased for its scrap value of US$1 million. The nine-deck vessel was transformed into the hospital ship MV Anastasis over a four-year period. The 522-foot ship was equipped with three operating rooms, a dental clinic, an x-ray machine, a laboratory[6] and 40 patient beds. The ship's 350-member crew included Mercy Ships founders Don and Deyon Stephens, who lived on board the ship with their four young children for ten years.[7]

MV Island Mercy, retired in 2001

In 1983, the Anastasis (the Greek word for "resurrection") began operations in the South Pacific, then moved to Central America and the Caribbean Sea in the mid-80’s. The ship moved on to Africa in 1991[8] and remained in service there until 2007. The final port of call for the Anastasis was Monrovia, Liberia.

Mercy Ships purchased the Norwegian coastal ferry Polarlys in 1994 and transformed it into the MV Caribbean Mercy, a hospital ship serving Central American and Caribbean ports. The ship offered berths for 150 crew and was equipped initially for field medical clinics. Over the course of several years, the ship was equipped with modern eye-surgery capabilities. The first eye surgery was performed on board The Caribbean Mercy in early 1997, while the ship was docked in Guatemala. On land, volunteers from the Caribbean Mercy also provided dental, orthopedic and healthcare services. The Caribbean Mercy visited 138 ports of call[9] and remained in service until May 2005.[8]

MV Anastasis, retired in 2007

In 1983, the Canadian ferry Petite Forte was donated to Mercy Ships to provide relief operations in the Caribbean. Initially christened the Good Samaritan,[8] the ship was re-christened the MV Island Mercy in 1994. The 60-berth vessel remained in service until spring of 2001. The countries it served included Brazil, the Dominican Republic, Guyana and Haiti. The ship also reached beyond the Caribbean with relief and medical operations in Guinea-Bissau, Western Samoa, the Tokelau Islands and New Zealand.[10]

Since 2000 Mercy Ships has the 16,500-ton flagship Africa Mercy,[5] which measures almost 500 feet long.[3] The Africa Mercy has greater capacity than all three previous Mercy Ships combined.[11] A second, purpose-built hospital ship is currently in design. In May 2007, the Africa Mercy sailed into the port in Monrovia to meet up with the Anastasis, enabling crew, equipment and supplies to be transferred from the oldest Mercy Ship to the newest one.

MV Africa Mercy

The Africa Mercy, the only current Mercy Ship, in 2007 made its official maiden voyage to Monrovia, Liberia, from the shipyard in England.[1] In 2008, the Africa Mercy continued its service to Liberia—offering free surgeries, assistance in healthcare infrastructure development, and community-based preventive health care programs that benefited thousands of individuals and many communities. More than 1,200 surgical procedures and 10,000 dental procedures were completed, along with community health projects such as HIV/AIDS prevention and construction of wells and latrines.

Early in 2010, the ship was docked in Lomé, Togo for the 2010 field service. In August 2010, the Africa Mercy went into shipyard in South Africa, where it was equipped with new, more efficient generators. In 2009, the ship was docked in Cotonou, Benin from February to December, providing free surgeries and medical care. Mercy Ships also worked with Beninese citizens on agriculture and water development projects on the ground in Benin. Before the Africa Mercy arrives in port, flyers are distributed to alert the public to the ship's upcoming visit. An advance team begins a massive screening of thousands of prospective patients, to see which men, women and children qualify for a surgery. It is common for people to walk for days (and even from neighboring countries) to find out whether they may be eligible for surgical treatment.[2]

Africa Mercy is currently completing dry dock and annual maintenance in Durban, South Africa. The ship will soon return to the port of Toamasina, Madagascar, where its field service will last from August 2015 to the summer of 2016. The ship was previously docked in Toamasina, Madagascar from October, 2014 through June, 2015. Before that, the ship served in Pointe Noire, Republic of Congo from August 2013 till May 2014. Before The Republic of Congo the vessel was docked in Conakry, Guinea and Lomé, Togo. The Africa Mercy docked in Freetown, Sierra Leone for its 2011 field service,[12] which lasted for 10 months.[13] At the conclusion of each field service, the Africa Mercy goes into dry dock, where it is resupplied and receives any needed repairs or upgrades before heading to its next port of call.[14]

Operational History

Mercy Ships brings hope and healing to the forgotten poor, mobilizing people and resources worldwide. The organization treats all patients without cost, and without regard to their religion, race or gender.[15]

Mercy Ships vessels have completed stopover port visits in 57 developing nations and 18 developed nations.[16] Its volunteers have performed services valued at more than $1 billion, impacting about 2.35 million people. Mercy Ships volunteers have performed more than 79,000 free operations, such as cleft lip and palate, cataract removal, straightening of crossed eyes, and orthopedic and facial reconstruction. Volunteers have performed 278,000 dental procedures for more than 109,000 dental patients.

The organization is active on land, as well as on board the ship. Volunteers have treated over 539,000 patients in mobile medical and dental clinics set up in the communities near ports where the hospital ship has docked. They have also have trained more than 29,400 local medical professionals in areas of specialization, including anesthesiology, midwifery, sterilization and surgery. Volunteers have educated about 5,770 local healthcare workers, who have in turn trained multiple thousands in primary healthcare. Volunteers have also taught basic health care to more than 150,000 local people. As of spring 2011, volunteers have completed nearly 1,100 community development projects focusing on water and sanitation, education, infrastructure development and agriculture.[17]

Mercy Ships is a Better Business Bureau accredited charity.[18] Originally a part of the YWAM (Youth with a Mission) family of Christian ministries, Mercy Ships is now a standalone organization.[19] Mercy Ships has built a broad base of financial support, beginning with donations from the public and from crew members. Medical companies donate pharmaceuticals, equipment and supplies to Mercy Ships. Corporations also make in-kind donations of materials such as fuel, food and building supplies. In addition, governments that work with Mercy Ships also waive port fees and associated costs for the ship to dock.[6]

Togo

In 1991, the government of Togo became the first African nation to invite the Mercy Ship Anastasis to dock and provide free surgical care. The 2012 Field Service in Lomé, Togo, marked the fifth visit of Mercy Ships to the West African country. During the five-month stay in port, the ship’s volunteer medical crew provided free surgeries, free dental procedures and trained local healthcare representatives. Mercy Ships also renovated portions of the Be-Kpota Anfamé Clinic in Lomé to serve as its 40-bed HOPE (Hospital Out-Patient Extension) Center for post-surgical recovery, which was returned to use as a Ministry of Health Clinic when the Africa Mercy departed.[20]

Sierra Leone

Mercy Ships vessels have visited Sierra Leone five times, beginning in 1992. Mercy Ships has tailored its work in Sierra Leone to support the country's National Health Sector Strategic Plan, which aims to strengthen the national health system.[13]

In December 2011, Mercy Ships signed on as a full partner to a Health Agreement with Sierra Leone, focusing on improving the country’s principal hospitals. The agreement calls for Mercy Ships to focus on upgrading medical and surgical services, patient recordkeeping and the physical conditions of hospital buildings and infrastructure.[21]

The organization's partner in Sierra Leone is the Aberdeen Women's Centre, formerly the Aberdeen West Africa Fistula Center. The Aberdeen Women's Centre is one of the few locations on the African continent offering obstetric fistula repair for women who have been injured during childbirth.[22] Started by Mercy Ships with the Ministry of Health, Addax Foundation and other partners, the Fistula Centre is now operated by the Gloag Foundation (UK).

Guinea

The Mercy Ships 2012 field service in Conakry marked the third visit by a Mercy Ship to Guinea, which was also visited by the earlier Mercy Ship Anastasis (now retired). Mercy Ships partnered with the country's Ministry of Health and Public Hygiene and other organizations to improve the country' health care delivery system. A special outreach was made to ensure that many patients from remote areas of the country were able to be screened for treatable conditions.

Republic of Congo

The Mercy Ships 2013 field service in Pointe Noire marked the first visit by a Mercy Ship to the Republic of Congo. Mercy Ships partnered with the country's Ministry of Health, and programs addressed requests by the authorities in Congo-Brazzaville to support continuing education opportunities for practicing professionals. Those included mentoring and training in nursing, anesthesiology, infection control, cataract removal surgery, basic surgical skills, trauma care, newborn resuscitation, palliative care, midwifery, and community health education. Mercy Ships partnered with local hospital infrastructures to help improve quality of care, teamwork and communication.

Madagascar

The upcoming 2015-2016 field service will be the third Mercy Ships visit to Madagascar, located off the southeastern coast of Africa. Madagascar is the world's fourth-largest island nation. A political crisis in recent years has hampered the nation's ability to meet a number of millennium development goals and has taken a heavy toll on Madagascar's economy and people. According to the office of the President of Madagascar, there is a clear and important need for the expertise Mercy Ships can bring to the nation, both in terms of specialized surgical and medical care as well as healthcare training and capacity building.

Capabilities

Medical Capabilities

Medical personnel on the Africa Mercy provide surgeries and healthcare to treat a wide range of problems, including cleft lip and palate, cataract, crossed eyes (strabismus), bowed legs (genu varum), burns and burn scars, dental problems and obstetric fistula repair for injuries sustained during childbirth.[17] Many of these ailments are extremely severe because patients have had little prior access to medical care.[5] In addition, people with disfiguring medical conditions have often been shunned by their communities, so medical treatment from Mercy Ships can also help relieve the stigma and isolation that they have experienced.[23]

The lower decks of the Africa Mercy are equipped with five operating theaters, an 82-bed recovery ward, a CT scanner, an X-ray machine and a laboratory. During its field service to Toamasina, Madagascar between October 2014 to June 2015, the volunteer crew of the "Africa Mercy" performed 1,269 free surgeries, had 42 participants in the Health Care Education Mentoring program which included surgeons, doctor and nurse anesthetists, lab and sterile technicians and a dentist. Mercy Ships Health Care Education courses taught 431 people in classes that included SAFE Obstetric Anesthesia, SAFE Pediatric Anesthesia, WHO Safe Surgical Checklist and Primary Trauma Care. The dental clinics provided 22,028 free dental procedures for tooth decay and infections on 5,141 patients and provided basic oral health education to the each patient. In addition, Mercy Ships increased health care delivery systems by renovating in-country hospital facilities.

On the upper decks of the Africa Mercy,[24] the ship has 126 cabins that provide accommodations for more than 400 crew, including families, couples and individuals. The ship is equipped with a day care center, an accredited academy for all grades through senior year of high school, a library, a launderette, a shop for groceries and sundries, a restaurant, a gymnasium, and a donated Starbucks cafe. A fleet of 28 vehicles travels with the ship, for use in Mercy Ships land-based operations.[25]

Expanding Medical Capacity

In addition to providing free surgical, medical and dental care, Mercy Ships is committed to investing in local healthcare infrastructure in ways that will continue to have a positive impact long after the ship leaves port. By developing medical facilities on land and training local personnel, Mercy Ships ensures that increased medical care can be provided after the Africa Mercy departs from its host country.

In the 2014-2015 field service in Toamasina, Madagascar, Mercy Ships renovated buildings at Hospital Kelly and CHUT.

In the 2013-2014 field service in the Republic of Congo, Mercy Ships renovated building at the Loandijili General Hospital and the Caritas compound.

In the 2012-2013 field service, Mercy Ships renovated portions of the Be-Kpota Anfamé Clinic in Lomé, Togo and a wing of the Ignace Deen Hospital in Conakry, Guinea.

In Sierra Leone during its 2011 Field Service, Mercy Ships donated three modular buildings to Rokupa Government Hospital in Freetown, providing a new Tuberculosis, Leprosy and HIV Outpatient Department, a Cholera Treatment Centre, offices and storage space. Mercy Ships also donated a drill rig to Living Water Sierra Leone, a Mercy Ships partner that provides shallow well drilling, pump repair and hygiene education.[26]

During its 2010 Field Service in Lomé, Togo, Mercy Ships extensively renovated a clinic to create a Hospital Out-Patient (HOPE) Center for Mercy Ships patients recovering from surgery. When the Africa Mercy departed from Togo, the updated facility became a clinic for the Ministry of Health.

Volunteers

The volunteer crew of the Africa Mercy is made up of more than 400 volunteers from more than 40 nations.[27] The total number of volunteers in all locations for the organization is about 1,200. About 200 Africans also serve as day crew on the ship.[17] In addition to the medical volunteers on the Africa Mercy, Mercy Ships also sends medical crews to aid at natural disaster sites such as the 2010 earthquake in Haiti.[28]

Mercy Ships offers short-term (two weeks to two years) and long-term (minimum two years) volunteer opportunities.[29] Mercy Ships needs volunteers for both medical and non-medical jobs. Due to the nature of the ship, positions for surgeons, dentists, and nurses are often readily available, but jobs such as deckhands, carpenters, seamen, teachers, cooks, engineers, machinists, welders, plumbers, videographers, photographers, writers, electricians and agriculturalists are also available.[30] [31] Volunteer crew often serve as blood donors, since there is a high demand for donated blood due to limited space to maintain a blood bank on board.[32]

Volunteers with Mercy Ships are responsible for paying all costs associated with their service, including crew fees, travel expenses, passports, immunizations, insurance and personal expenses. Because of this commitment, Mercy Ships is able to use direct contributions from its supporters to bring hope and healing to the poorest of the poor.[33]

References

  1. 1 2 "AFRICA MERCY sails from UK to Africa". Article. Shipping Times. 4 May 2007. Retrieved 23 September 2011.
  2. 1 2 Hess, Angie (March–April 2006). "Haven of Mercy". Article (Spirit of SN).
  3. 1 2 Bufe, Claire (May 2011). "Save Lives on the High Seas". Article (Material Handling & Logistics).
  4. ↑ Robert R. Selle, "Angel of Mercy," Article, The World & I, 2003. Retrieved 18 September 2011.
  5. 1 2 3 Holmes, Angie (18 June 2011). "Marion nurse volunteers on floating hospital in West Africa". Article. Eastern Iowa Life. Retrieved 31 August 2011.
  6. 1 2 Robert R. Selle, "Angel of Mercy," The World & I, 2003. Retrieved 18 September 2011.
  7. ↑ Pukas, Anna (7 May 2009). "Miracle of the Mercy Ships". Article. UK News. Retrieved 19 September 2011.
  8. 1 2 3 Fadeley, Jon (18 June 2002). "Transformations: How a Coastal Ferry Became a Mercy Ship". Article. MarineLink.com. Retrieved 19 September 2011.
  9. ↑ "Mercy Ships Launching the Africa Mercy". article. 21 March 2006. Retrieved 25 September 2011.
  10. ↑ Dake, Shawn. "Mercy Ships: First 25 Years". Article (Mercy Ships).
  11. ↑ "Mercy Ships Launching the Africa Mercy," article, 21 March 2006, http://www.ywam.org/News-Stories/sources/news/mercy_ships_launching_the_africa_mercy. Retrieved 14 September 2011
  12. ↑ "Sierra Leone: Nation Honors Mercy Ships Founder". Article. Concord Times (Freetown). 30 May 2011. Retrieved 30 August 2011.
  13. 1 2 "Africa Mercy Welcomes Sierra Leone President, Vice President and Minister of Health". Article (International Daily). 2 June 2011.
  14. ↑ "Crew Members Ralph and Kay Crew". Article (The Pioneer). 2 June 2011.
  15. ↑ "Mercy Ships". webpage. charitynavigator.com. Retrieved 19 September 2011.
  16. ↑ https://mercyships.s3.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/07/MSUS_AR-2013-lr.pdf
  17. 1 2 3 Nugent, Mary (18 July 2011). "Chico couple volunteers on floating hospital in Africa". Article. ChicoER.com.
  18. ↑ "Start with Trust," webpage, Better Business Bureau, http://www.give.org/charity-reviews/national/health/mercy-ships-in-lindale-tx-5198. Retrieved 3 March 2015
  19. ↑ Hamm, Kevin (5 May 2011). "Littleton doctor serves with Mercy Ships, aids African poor". The Denver Post. Archived from the original on 22 March 2012.
  20. ↑ Thibault, Joanne (15 February 2012). "HOPE Center Opening". Article. Mercy Ships. Retrieved 12 March 2012.
  21. ↑ "Mercy Ships Signs Health Compact with Government of Sierra Leone". Press release (Press release). Mercy Ships. 22 December 2011.
  22. ↑ "Sierra Leone". EngenderHealth. Retrieved 30 August 2011.
  23. ↑ Friedel, Linda (14 June 2011). "Nurse serves in Sierra Leone". Article. Kccommunitynews.com. Retrieved 2 September. Check date values in: |access-date= (help)
  24. ↑ Susan Stewart, "Jennifer Brodie and Brian Anderson...serving the world's poor one volunteer at a time," article, JournalPLUS, June 2011. Retrieved 6 September 2011.
  25. ↑ Dan McDougall, "Hands Across The Ocean," The Sunday Times (U.K.). Retrieved 5 September 2011.
  26. ↑ Catherine Cooper,"Donation of Modular Buildings," January 2012, http://www.mercyships.org/blog/entry/donation-of-modular-buildings. Retrieved 8 March 2012
  27. ↑ "Africa Mercy Welcomes Sierra Leone President, Vice President and Minister of Health". Article (Ihttps://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Mercy_Ships&action=edit&section=3#nternational Daily). 2 June 2011. External link in |publisher= (help);
  28. ↑ Ferguson, Mike (26 May 2011). "Great job, Larry: Muscatine nurse picked as one of the 100 great nurses in Iowa". Article. Muscatine Journal. Retrieved 2 September 2011.
  29. ↑ Mullendore, Jessica (23 June 2011). "Southside nurse shares skills with Sierra Leone aboard Mercy Ship". Article. The Florida Times Union. Retrieved 2 September 2011.
  30. ↑ Mullendore, Jessica (23 June 2011). "Southside nurse shares skills with Sierra Leone aboard Mercy Ship". Article. The Florida Times Union. Retrieved 2 September. Check date values in: |access-date= (help)
  31. ↑ Sexton, Brenda (2011-11-02). "Missionaries Elizabeth and Beau Chevassus from Knok Studio". Courier Herald. Retrieved 2015-01-21.
  32. ↑ Shank, Amy (14 June 2011). "Mercy Ships celebrates World Blood Donor Day". Article. Christian Today. Retrieved 30 August 2011.
  33. ↑ http://volunteer.mercyships.org/volunteer/finances-for-volunteers/
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