Mercy Ships
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Mercy Ships is a global charity engaged in bringing humanitarian aid to developing nations. Founded in 1978 by Youth With A Mission, it operates a fleet of hospital ships to provide free healthcare and community development to developing nations. Its fleet currently comprises of:
- M/V Anastasis - Currently docked in Ghana as the M/V Africa Mercy is outfitted for service
- M/V Africa Mercy - Being prepared for first outreach to Ghana
Since 1978, Mercy Ships has impacted over 5.5 million people; delivered more than US$21 million of medical equipment, hospital supplies and medicines; completed nearly 350 construction projects such as schools, clinics, orphanages and waterwells. The ships have visited 95 ports in 53 developing states.
Mercy Ships operates two land-based centres in Sierra Leone. The Aberdeen Clinic and Fistula Centre (ACFC) 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.
The Mercy Ships are crewed by volunteers. 850 career staff and over 1600 short-term volunteers from over 40 nations join together to serve the poor and needy. They have offices in 17 nations worldwide including the USA, Britain, Germany, Switzerland, The Netherlands, South Africa and Australia. Their international operations center is located in Garden Valley, Texas.
[edit] External links
- Mercy Ships website
- Mercy Ships Fleet and Programme information
- Personal websites of Mercy Ships crew
