Mercy Ships

 Mercy Ships is a global charity which uses hospital ships to provide free health care and community development services to developing nations. It was founded in 1978 by Don and Deyon Stephens. The fleet currently comprises:

• M/V Africa Mercy - Currently docked in Monrovia, Liberia and conducting free surgeries and medical care for the people of Liberia.
• M/V Anastasis - Retired, June 2007.
• M/V Caribbean Mercy - Retired, May 2005.

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The volunteer Mercy Ships crew is compromised of 1000 career crew and over 2000 short-term volunteers from over 40 nations.

History

Since 1978, Mercy Ships has performed more than 1.7 million services ^[1] valued in excess of US$670 million ^[2] and affecting more than 1.9 million people as direct beneficiaries.

Some of the more notable statistics include:

• performed more than 32,500 surgeries such as cleft lip and palate, cataract removal, straightening of crossed eyes, orthopaedic and facial reconstruction;
• treated more than 212,000 people in village medical clinics;
• performed more than 183,000 dental treatments;
• taught nearly 14,500 local health care and professional workers, who have in turn trained many others in primary health care;
• taught nearly 95,000 local people in primary health care;
• trained local medical professionals in modern health care techniques;
• delivered more than $60 million USD of medical equipment, hospital supplies and medicines;
• completed more than 900 community development projects including construction of schools, clinics, orphanages, water wells and agriculture programs; and
• visited over 550 total ports in 70 different nations.

More than 1000 career crew from over 40 nations serve today. More than 2,000 short-term volunteers serve with Mercy Ships each year.

Mercy Ships operates two land-based centres in Sierra Leone. The West Africa Fistula Centre, Sierra Leone serves over 5000 children per year and provides surgical services for vesico-vaginal fistulas. The New Steps Centre provides rehabilitative services, and distributes wheelchairs and other mobility devices.

Mercy Ships has national offices in 17 nations worldwide including the USA, Britain, Germany, Switzerland, The Netherlands, South Africa and Australia. The International Operations Center is located in Garden Valley, Texas.

See also

Red Cross - charitable organization.

Notes

1. ^ Services were delivered at current value to beneficiaries within developing nations.
2. ^ Convert figures to local currency or retain reference to USD.