HTR Magazine June21 Web - Flipbook - Page 16
Charity of the Month - June
Mercy Ships
This month’s charity is an organisation which sends floating operating theatres to
the poorest people in the world.
Did you know that more than 44% of the world’s population lives within 100 miles of
a coast? This is why Mercy Ships uses modern hospital ships to bring world-class
volunteer medical professionals directly to the places they’re needed most.
Conditions requiring surgical treatment kill more people in low-income countries
than HIV/Aids, TB and malaria combined. Globally, five billion people have no access
to safe, affordable surgery when they need it.
By delivering healthcare in every country it visits, Mercy Ships is working to
eradicate the diseases of poverty and effectively do itself out of a job. Mercy Ships
follows the model of Jesus by bringing hope and healing to the forgotten poor,
helping people of all faiths and none.
The “Africa Mercy” is the largest charity-run hospital ship in the world. It contains
five operating rooms, a four-bed recovery area, intensive care for up to five patients,
and 80 ward beds. The Africa Mercy houses about 400 volunteer crew members
from up to 40 nations.
If you would like to read about some of the many people who have been helped
through this charity, the link here
https://www.mercyships.org.uk/who-we-serve/patient-stories/
gives details of some of their stories.
There are lots to choose from, but the story of Mariama, a little Sengalese girl born
with a severe facial cleft is a lovely one. Her life was changed when her parents
heard that Mercy Ships were in the capital port of Dakar and their daughter’s face
could be rebuilt.
You can support the work of Mercy Ships by making a donation at Holy Trinity or by
following the link below.
£50 helps fund an operation like Mariama’s.
£39 helps fund cataract surgery.
https://www.mercyships.org.uk/donate/
