AFRICA – Mercy Ships, a leading humanitarian organization, has unveiled a new floating hospital, built on top of a ship platform, to enhance its efforts to improve access to safe and quality world class care in Africa.
The hospital ship named, the Global Mercy, which will join the Africa Mercy, which has been championing quality and safe health care in Africa since its commissioning in 2007.
Dr. Pierre M’Pelé, Director of the Mercy Ships Africa Bureau, while overseeing the hospital ship’s commissioning, revealed that the Global Mercy is scheduled to begin service in Africa in 2021.
Every year, 16.9 million people around the world die due to lack of access to surgical care and 93% of sub-Saharan Africa still lack this access, according to a report by Mercy Ships Africa.
In line with its objective of improving healthcare in Africa, Mercy Ships has performed more than 100,000 free surgical procedures, trained more than 40,000 medical professionals.
It has also renovated more than 100 health facilities, and implemented more than 1,000 community projects in Africa since its inception 30 years ago.
Countries that have been impacted by the work of Mercy Corps include: Benin, Cameroon, Côte d’Ivoire, Congo, Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Liberia, Madagascar, Sierra Leone, Senegal, South Africa, Togo.
Mercy Ship’s impact on the continent is expected to more than double following the commissioning of The Global Mercy, a modern, state-of-the-art hospital ship, equipped with six surgical operating rooms.
“As COVID-19 threatens the stability of already fragile healthcare systems globally, the need to provide accessible, life-saving surgical care is greater than ever. The Global Mercy represents a unique call to support the strengthening of healthcare systems in Africa on behalf of the most vulnerable.”
Rosa Whitaker – President for Mercy Ships.
Global Mercy is 174 meters in length and weighs 3,700 tons. With its fully equipped 6 theatres, the ship has a capacity of hosting over 600 professional volunteers from around the world.
She also has designed to host up to 950 crew and guests, including a 682-seat auditorium, a school, a gymnasium, a pool, a café, a store and a library when the ship is docked.
Apart from providing free healthcare services, the magnificent floating hospital will also provide a specialized training platform for African surgeons, obstetricians, dentists and anesthesiologists, including a simulation laboratory for surgical and post-operative care.
Mercy Ships uses hospital ships to deliver free, world-class healthcare services, capacity building, and sustainable development to those with little access in the developing world.
Founded in 1978 by Don and Deyon Stephens, Mercy Ships has worked in more than 55 developing countries, providing services valued at more than $1.7 billion and directly benefitting more than 2.8 million people.
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