Media Releases

                Thanks to Mercy Ships, Abel Dalome, walked home a different way.  His legs are now in front of him, instead of behind him.

                Abel is a happy 11-year-old, who loves to make new friends, but his attitude is surprising considering the physical problem he lived with for most of his life and the reaction of most people to that problem.

His parents noticed he was having difficulty learning to crawl.  His muscles had stopped growing but his bones had not.  As a result, his legs began to bend backwards at the knee, forcing his upper thighs out behind him.  His parents took him to three different doctors but none knew what to do for him.

                Despite the condition, Abel learned to lean forward, correcting his balance enough to walk, climb and do most things that boys can do.  He even became the goalkeeper on his soccer team.  The only thing he could not do was ride a bicycle.

                Abel’s physical deformity made him the target of ridicule from other children, but he remained optimistic thanks to his joyful spirit and supportive parents.  One day there was an announcement on the radio that Mercy Ships was coming to Togo, offering free surgeries.  Abel and his father Kouego made the long journey by motorbike and car to reach the hospital ship Africa Mercy, operated by Mercy Ships, hopeful that volunteer surgeons could straighten the boy’s legs.

                A few days later, a wonderful surprise awaited Abel when he woke following his first surgery.  His left leg was straight out in front of him, wrapped in a cast.  As he admired his newly straightened leg, he asked his father if his right leg would also be straight after the next surgery.  His father assured him that it would.  Abel declared jubilantly, “If the other leg is going to be like this one I am going to give a big thanks to the Lord.”

                A second surgery did straighten the right leg, and he had a third procedure - plastic surgery on his knees.   Then there was a further round of surgeries, post-operative care and therapy sessions to retrain the leg muscles.

                Through it all, Kouego stayed beside his son.  With gentle and loving patience he encouraged and supported him.  He slept on a mattress under Abel’s bed in the hospital ward, and next to him in an offshore recovery centre.  There must have been times when he was weary of sitting and waiting, but he never showed any sign of fatigue.  With good humour he was always ready to do whatever was next on the agenda of ‘straight legs’ for Abel.

                With all of the interest across Africa in the World Cup, Abel was keen to get back on the field himself.  But his long-term goal is not to become a famous soccer player.  He is determined to become a surgeon, like those who serve with Mercy Ships.  “It is because of the things they have done for me,” he said.

                Since 1978, Mercy Ships has used ships to deliver free, world-class health care and development services to those without access in the poorest nations of the world.  Following the example of Jesus, Mercy Ships brings hope and healing to the poor. Working in partnership with local people, Mercy Ships empowers communities to help themselves.    The result is a way out of poverty.

The emphasis is on the needs of the world’s poorest nations in West Africa, where the world’s largest charity hospital ship Africa Mercy with a crew of more than 400 short-term and long-term volunteers provides the platform for services extending up to ten months at a time.  Mercy Ships works on land-based projects in Sierra Leone in partnership with other organisations, while teams also work in several nations of Central America and the Caribbean.  Mercy Ships Australia, one of 14 international support offices is based on the Queensland Sunshine Coast. www.mercyships.org.au

26 June 2010

                “I first heard about the work of Mercy Ships when I was 17.  I was interested then, but could not afford it,” says Darwin nurse Jenny Ward.

                Now after 15 years of nursing, she has just returned from three weeks service as a volunteer nurse onboard the world’s largest charity hospital ship in the West African nation of Togo, one of the world’s poorest nations.

                “The time was now right,” she says.  “My work experience over the years covered a number of areas, I have worked on other missionary ships overseas, and Mercy Ships is interested in people able to serve for short-term periods as well as long-term, while other organisations expect periods of service for six months or longer.

                “Those around me at home were very supportive of my decision, but many had never heard of Mercy Ships.  I knew nothing about Togo.   When I was accepted for service as a volunteer I had to look at a map of Africa to find where the ship was.  It is not easy destination for making travel arrangements either.   I flew via Darwin, Singapore and Paris to Togo’s capital Lome, and returned the same way.”

                Jenny describes the work being done by volunteers, all of whom pay their own way to be involved, as very important.  “The people of Togo and other West African nations have to live with poverty and famine, poor governance and a lack of educational opportunities.  They also live with many traditional beliefs and superstitions that often result in people suffering from disability or disfigurement being regarded as cursed.  That results in their being abandoned, rejected or isolated from family and the rest of society.”

                “This experience has helped change my perspective on looking at the needs of others.   I have grown to love the people of Africa.   After seeing the people we cared for and considered their circumstances and their poverty, I have been able to look at people with a greater sense of compassion and love, in line with the values set by Mercy Ships.  I believe love crosses every border and pulls down every barrier.”

                Jenny hopes to be able to continue travelling once or twice a year working as a nurse.  “I would like to serve on the Africa Mercy again one day,” she concludes.

                 Mercy Ships is a global charity that has operated hospital ships in developing nations since 1978 providing free health care and community development services to the forgotten poor.   Following the example of Jesus, Mercy Ships brings hope and healing to the poor. Working in partnership with local people, Mercy Ships empowers communities to help themselves.    The result is a way out of poverty.

Since 1978, volunteers serving with Mercy Ships have had an impact on the lives of millions of people in the world’s poorest nation.  Mercy Ships has provided services valued at more than $800 million.

*Performed more than 41,000 surgeries such as cleft lip and palate, cataract removal, orthopaedic reconstruction and obstetric fistula repair.

*Treated more than 230,000 people in village medical clinics.

*Performed more than 205,000 dental treatments.

*Taught over 14,500 local health care and professional workers, who have in turn trained others.

*Taught 105,000 local people in primary health care.

*Delivered more than $70 million worth of medical equipment, hospital and other supplies.

*Completed more than 1,000 community development projects focusing on water and sanitation, education, infrastructure development and agriculture.

*Demonstrated the love of God to people in over 550 port visits in 70 different nations.

*More than 1,600 short-term volunteers serve with Mercy Ships each year.

                The emphasis is on the needs of the world’s poorest nations in West Africa, where the world’s largest charity hospital ship Africa Mercy, with its crew of 450 volunteers, provides the platform for services extending up to ten months at a time.  Mercy Ships works on land-based projects in Sierra Leone in partnership with other organisations, while teams also work in several nations of Central America and the Caribbean.  Mercy Ships Australia, one of 14 international support offices is based on the Queensland Sunshine Coast. www.mercyships.org.au

13 June 2010

                The Australian-based software developer Atlassian is giving something back to benefit the world’s largest charity hospital ship in Africa.

                The company which specialises in software development and collaboration tools, has announced that Mercy Ships, which has an Australian support office on the Queensland Sunshine Coast, is the recipient of its first ever Community Award.   The award of $10,000 will benefit the people of Togo, West Africa, through the charity’s program of plastic reconstructive surgeries onboard the hospital ship Africa Mercy.

                Crew member Anne Barker, who coordinates the charity’s intranet which is supported by Atlassian’s Community Licence Program, submitted the winning entry.   Since October 2005 Atlassian has been donating software through the program to Mercy Ships, a gift estimated by the charity to be worth $30,000.  With such cost savings, volunteer surgeons working with Mercy Ships can remove 60 facial tumours from patients ostracised by their communities, OR perform 120 cataract surgeries to restore sight to young or old, OR correct 120 cleft lip/palates in children seen as cursed, OR correct 60 obstetric fistulas for women usually abandoned by their husbands and families, OR offer 600 free dental procedures in areas where there is no dentist.

                Sam Smith, Mercy Ships CEO, says the partnership with Atlassian, and Confluence in particular, has helped to increase the efficiency of our organisation.  “Mercy Ships has been fortunate to increase our capacity to serve the poor with the addition of the new flagship Africa Mercy.  This ship more than doubled the capacity of all the ships in our history.  We combine this with partners like Atlassian, and we are positioned to increase the impact we can make on the world,” he said.

                Daily, more than 400 crew members from 40 nations onboard the ship and hundreds of land-based support crew working internationally in remote locations benefit from Atlassian’s wiki program through interaction with the charity’s intranet.   CIO Chris Gregg says Mercy Ships Information Services began using Atlassian Confluence as a wiki to enable information between the charity’s 15 offices and ship in Africa to be shared easily, commented upon and edited, regardless of different geographical locations and time zones. 

“They use Atlassian JIRA to manage issues for IT projects, systems and services.  Procurement offices in the US, Holland, Germany and UK are able to use the resources to collaborate on restocking items for the ship’s hospital and community.   Additionally, the ship’s Marine Operations is able to publish business management documents to a standard that satisfies certification conditions to operate the Africa Mercy at sea and in port.”

Co-founder and Atlassian CEO Mike Cannon-Brookes said, “Thank you so much for taking the time to share the impact of our software development and collaboration tools are having on your charity.   In the eight years since Atlassian has been in business, licences for our collaboration and software development tools valued at more than $34 million have been donated to thousands of non-profit organisations and community causes.  This award attempts to address the question of how that value translates into a real impact within the world that we share.”

            “I had been considering my future when a friend asked when I was planning to go overseas and work,” says former Sunshine Coast solicitor Kate Irwin, who left her job and is spending six months as a volunteer helping those in need overseas.

            For two months of that time away she served as a volunteer with Mercy Ships in Benin, West Africa, onboard the world’s largest non-governmental hospital ship Africa Mercy.  From working as a solicitor in a commercial law practice she did not use her legal skills, but worked as a dining room steward.  “Much of that time I spent washing dishes,” she says. 

            As with all of the 400 volunteers onboard at any one time, Kate paid her own way to and from Benin, and paid crew fees for accommodation and food to offset operating costs for the ship, enabling Mercy Ships to provide a wide range of medical and community development projects free of charge to the people of Benin, one of the world’s poorest nations.  “Sometimes I felt that I was not doing very much to reach out to the poor or having very little impact on their lives.   But then I realised that every person onboard the ship has a role to play, and a huge range of skills and talents is involved.  The eventual outcome of what is being done is, without doubt, very important.  To see the joy in the lives of people changed through surgery and hope given to communities through many practical projects makes it all worthwhile.”

            “Off duty from the dining room, I was privileged to be involved in a number of aspects of the work being done.  I visited local churches, spent time gardening at a new agricultural centre designed to teach local people sustainable farming practices, visited orphanages, helped on dental teams, travelled with teams showing the Jesus film, and adopted patients while they recovered from surgery.”

            Kate says it was difficult not to become overwhelmed by the magnitude of problems facing the poor in Africa.  “My part seemed so insignificant in the overall plan of finding a solution.   But making a difference in the life of one person is what really matters.  That tends to produce a rippling effect and goes on to affect others in that person’s family and community.  I even saw that when the lives of some could not be saved through surgery.  Through the work of palliative care teams lives were changed and others were affected through the demonstration of love and acceptance.”

            There were many highlights.  “One day I went to an orphanage and helped play with very young children while staff were receiving additional training.   The children were like sponges, just wanting to soak up all of the love that we could provide.  There were so many children to care for that normally the staff would not have enough time just to sit, hold, hug and play.  What a privilege that was.   What a sight though.  Bath time came and there were 16 babies all lined up on potties and baths ready to go.  Only one of them cried during this episode.  I have never seen so many babies bathed so quickly – something like a production line, but the carers do care about the children.”

            “It also seemed a long way from law, when I spent a day with a dental team, not that I think I missed my calling as a dentist.  For a while I had the role of dental assistant, and actually got to pull out one tooth.  One girl was literally writhing in pain and I held her hand.  She was squeezing my hand tightly and that helped keep her still.   Suddenly I felt like I was helping – perhaps for the first time since arriving in Africa – at least helping the people.  Another day I went to several of the six operating theatres on board and was able to talk to the surgeons as they operated.   I watched as surgeons removed cataracts enabling those who were blind to see again with a couple of days.”

            “From my six months of experiences with Mercy Ships in Benin, from time spent teaching English at a Christian University in the Ukraine, and from working at Grace Centre in Ethiopia I expect to return home a changed person,” Kate concludes.

Mercy Ships is a global charity that has operated hospital ships in developing nations since 1978.   Following the example of Jesus, Mercy Ships brings hope and healing to the poor, mobilizing people and resources worldwide. The current emphasis is on the needs of the world’s poorest nations in West Africa, where the hospital ship Africa Mercy provides the platform for services extending up to ten months at a time.  Mercy Ships also works on land-based projects in Sierra Leone in partnership with other organisations, while teams also serve in several nations of Central America and the Caribbean.  Mercy Ships Australia, one of 14 international support offices is based on the Queensland Sunshine Coast. www.mercyships.org.au

18 October 2009

            "I was only onboard a few days, when I realised there was already a change in the way I saw things and what I could do to serve the under-privileged."

            Coffs Harbour nurse Margo Clerc has returned from serving as a volunteer with Mercy Ships in the West African nation, Benin, on the world's largest non-governmental hospital ship Africa Mercy.

            "I have long had a strong desire to help others in need, and a heart for Africa and its people," she says.   I heard about the work being done by volunteers serving with Mercy Ships through a Christian radio station and in a nursing journal and began the process of offering to serve using the skills I have gained through a long nursing career."

            "Flying to Benin is not what I would call the easiest holiday I have booked.  Flying to non-tourist destinations can involve negative encounters with officials, as well as providing opportunities to meet uplifting, inspiring and helpful people.  It was a busy time preparing.  Completing the necessary application forms to volunteer, obtaining holiday and long service leave, getting references, visas and immunisations, medical checks, booking flights and learning as much as I could about Benin prior to departure.  My family was very supportive, and there were only a few negative responses from colleagues at work"

            As with all Mercy Ships volunteers, Margo paid her own way to and from Benin, and while onboard paid crew fees for accommodation and food to offset ship's running costs, enabling the charity to provide all of its medical and community development services completely free of charge to the people of Benin, one of the world's poorest countries.

            Margo says the people of Benin face many challenges.  "There are no such things as Medicare or social security.  People die from diseases that are fully preventable or curable simply because they can't afford to pay for the most basic of medical care or medicines.  Many who have conditions that are curable or at least manageable in the developed world face a lifetime of being shunned by society, ostracised, utterly lonely, and totally dependent on charity.  That is one of the reasons why it has been such a privilege to be involved.  To see the joy on the faces of mothers when their children come out of successful surgery and now with hope of a future.  The wonder in the eyes of the elderly when they can see again following simple cataract surgery.  Such memories are absolutely priceless."

            "While there were many wonderful experiences, there were also some that were heartbreaking.   So many men needed surgery to correct hernias, but there were not enough beds.  These are men who are so poor they cannot continue to do hard work to keep their families, and will not be able to do so until their hernias are repaired.  There are many women with goiters resulting from a lack of iodine in the diet, but the surgery schedule is filled with life-threatening cases only.  There are children with deformities like club feet.  Corrective surgery is available in our country when such children are small.   I remember a woman who came onboard with a two-year-old son who had broken his elbow two weeks previously and had not been able to obtain medical help.  That arm will never be normal."

            "Despite all of that, Mercy Ships is doing something very positive, giving so many people a hope for the future they would not otherwise have.   There was real joy for women receiving corrective surgery for obstetric fistulas resulting from prolonged or obstructed labour in childbirth.  These are women who had been rejected by their communities and even their families because of their incontinence.  Some were not yet 20.   Others had lived as total outcasts for 40 years.  The joy on their faces when they were discharged following a special ceremony of song and dance as they received colourful new dresses to signify their new start to life was just amazing, and very moving to witness," Margo concludes.

Mercy Ships is a global charity that has operated hospital ships in developing nations since 1978.   Following the example of Jesus, Mercy Ships brings hope and healing to the poor, mobilizing people and resources worldwide.

Mercy Ships offers a range of health and community development services free of charge.  Highly skilled surgeons on board the ships perform thousands of operations each year to correct disability, disfigurement and blindness.   Medical and dental teams travel the countries and establish clinics to provide vaccination programs, dental treatment and basic health care for those with no access to these facilities.  Local community health workers receive training in hygiene, nutrition and disease prevention.

Mercy Ships builds hospitals, clinics, training facilities and basic housing where none exist.   Agricultural projects help replenish livestock in war-torn areas and boost food production.   Working in partnership with local people, Mercy Ships empowers communities to help themselves.    The result is a way out of poverty.  The emphasis is on the needs of the world's poorest nations in West Africa, where the hospital ship Africa Mercy provides the platform for services extending up to ten months at a time.  Mercy Ships works on land-based projects in Sierra Leone in partnership with other organisations, while teams also work in several nations of Central America and the Caribbean.  Mercy Ships Australia, one of 14 international support offices is based on the Queensland Sunshine Coast. www.mercyships.org.au

11 October 2009

            "If it weren't for Mercy Ships, a lot of people in Benin and in other poor nations of West Africa would be suffering needlessly from deformities and diseases that are corrected so easily in the developed world."

            That is how Cairns nurse Diana Bush sums up her experiences as a volunteer on the Africa Mercy, the world's largest non-governmental hospital ship in Benin for more than two months.   Paying her own way to get their and paying crew fees to help offset the ship's operating costs, she worked in the wards of the 78-bed hospital with its six operating theatres.

            "I always knew I was well off, but it is difficult to realise just how well off we are in Australia until you see the poverty in West Africa where many of the world's poorest nations are located.   These are people who have to work very hard just to survive sometimes.   But it was interesting to see that what they lack in the material things we take for granted, they make up for in their enthusiasm, their joy and their grace."

            "Combined with the poverty and the problems arising from malnourishment, I saw medical conditions resulting from a lack of medical help, lack of clean drinking water, and diseases that are preventable through immunization."

            Diana heard about the work done by Mercy Ships volunteers through a housemate while she was doing her Nursing Degree.  She has paediatric and surgical nursing experience, and set out without much knowledge of conditions in Benin, apart from the fact that it is poor and needy for medical assistance because of the very limited health care services. 

            "Those around me gave plenty of encouragement," she says.  "Some said, ‘Just do it!' adding that they wished they could what I was planning.   There was nothing bad about the whole experience.  There were some wonderful moments.  Playing with a blind child before surgery, then playing with him afterwards and just noticing the difference in his eyes following cataract surgery.   Dancing and singing with women who had undergone successful surgery to correct obstetric fistulas resulting from lengthy or obstructed childbirth."

            "I guess you would say my life has been changed forever because of this time.  I would like to think that God will use me in many ways to help those in need.  Depending on finances, I would also like to think I could return to the Mercy Ship for a longer period of time.   The experience has also made me more thankful for the life I have and the things I have in Australia," Diana concludes.

            Mercy Ships is a global charity that has operated hospital ships in developing nations since 1978.   Following the example of Jesus, Mercy Ships brings hope and healing to the poor, mobilizing people and resources worldwide.  Mercy Ships offers a range of health and community development services free of charge.  Highly skilled surgeons on board the ships perform thousands of operations each year to correct disability, disfigurement and blindness.   Medical and dental teams travel the countries and establish clinics to provide vaccination programs, dental treatment and basic health care for those with no access to these facilities.  Local community health workers receive training in hygiene, nutrition and disease prevention.

Mercy Ships builds hospitals, clinics, training facilities and basic housing where none exist.   Agricultural projects help replenish livestock in war-torn areas and boost food production.   Working in partnership with local people, Mercy Ships empowers communities to help themselves.    The result is a way out of poverty.

            The emphasis is on the needs of the world's poorest nations in West Africa, where the hospital ship Africa Mercy with a crew of more than 400 provides the platform for services extending up to ten months at a time.  Mercy Ships works on land-based projects in Sierra Leone in partnership with other organisations, while teams also work in several nations of Central America and the Caribbean.  Mercy Ships Australia, one of 14 international support offices is based on the Queensland Sunshine Coast. www.mercyships.org.au

29 September 2009 

                "I hope to return to Africa," says Andrea Bailey.

                "There is such a great need here for work that is changing people's live," says Deb Louden.

                Both are nurses from Toowoomba serving onboard the world's largest non-governmental hospital ship in Benin, West Africa, one of the world's poorest nations.  Andrea has returned from six weeks service as a volunteer working in intensive care, the ward and post-anaesthetic care unit.  Deb has been onboard since early April working as a ward nurse and is not due home until November.  As with all Mercy Ships volunteers, the two nurses along with more than 400 volunteers onboard at any one time paid their own way to go and also paid crew fees to help offset running costs of the ship.

                Andrea heard about Mercy Ships from the family of friends who had served with Mercy Ships, and Deb first read of the work in a brochure she picked up from a Mercy Ship stand at the Toowoomba Easterfest (formerly the Australian Gospel Music Festival).  "That was a number of years ago," she says.  "I had to complete my nursing degree first and gain two years of work experience before I was accepted," Deb says.

                "I grew up loving everything medical, after spending a month in hospital as a patient.  It was then I decided that nursing was the profession for me.  To serve as a volunteer on the hospital ship Africa Mercy with its six operating theatres and 78-bed hospital was something I had wanted to do for so many years."  

"I have been so blessed to have been born in a wealthy country.  I was actually born with clubbed feet, a problem that was easily fixed with casts when I was six weeks old.   If I had been born in a country like Benin, like so many children here, I could have been walking on the sides of my feet for many years, or even for all of my life.   It is such a delight being in the ward with patients as they recover from surgery, getting to know them, doing arts and crafts with them and playing games.  We pray for miracles, because sometimes that is all we can do.  And sometimes we are blessed with miracles," says Deb.

                Andrea says she wasn't quite ready to head for West Africa with Mercy Ships as quickly as it all happened.  "I had worked in Zambia in a home for street children and assisted on a medical mission to a remote part of that country.   I then looked at Mercy Ships as a well known organisation with a good reputation, and had planned to offer myself for service in 2010.  But two weeks after I sent my application off, Mercy Ships asked me to consider coming in six weeks time because of a shortage then of nurses.  I thought it would be too difficult to organize, but God worked it all out, including my job, finding a replacement housemate, and deferring my university study on international health."

                "In Benin it doesn't much matter how sick you are or what your needs for surgery are.  Or whether you are dying or having a baby.  If you don't have money, you are not able to get medical care.   That is why the work being done by Mercy Ships is so important.  Volunteers from around the world provide a range of medical and community development services, all aimed at bringing hope and healing to the needy poor."

                "When I started my nursing career, I had a passion for working in the area of women's health.  Now after working with surgeons carrying out repairs on obstetric fistulas resulting from prolonged or difficult childbirth, I really would like to become a midwife.  Then I could teach women the importance of seeking assistance with pre-natal care, birthing and post-natal care.  There is such a need across Africa among women who have become incontinent, ostracized and shunned by family and community.  I hope to be able to return to Africa to help such women," she says.

                It was also working with women following obstetric fistula repair surgery that Deb Louden described as among the highlights of her time onboard.  "When the women become ‘dry' following surgery each is given a new set of clothes to signify a new start to life.  They join in a dress ceremony before leaving, and it is wonderful to hear the joyful voices, the banging of drums, and to see the joy on their faces.  I feel the joy in their hearts for the healing that has taken place in their bodies and hearts, and to realise they are able to return to normal life and be accepted back into their communities."

                "For some time I have felt that materialism is taking over Australia and the western world.  I wish there could be a way to get out of it, or at least to do something about it by not conforming and buying every little thing I want but do not need.  In Benin, the people have very few possessions but are happy with what they have.  I hope to be able to continue with this way of thinking, and also to share that message when I return to Australia," Deb concludes.

Mercy Ships is a global charity that has operated hospital ships in developing nations since 1978.   Following the example of Jesus, Mercy Ships brings hope and healing to the poor, mobilizing people and resources worldwide. The emphasis is on the needs of the world's poorest nations in West Africa, where the hospital ship Africa Mercy provides the platform for services extending up to ten months at a time.  Mercy Ships works on land-based projects in Sierra Leone in partnership with other organisations, while teams also work in several nations of Central America and the Caribbean.  Mercy Ships Australia, one of 14 international support offices is based on the Queensland Sunshine Coast. www.mercyships.org.au

23 September 2009

                "My workmates were surprised at first that I would use my holidays to go and serve as a volunteer on a hospital ship in Africa," says Birkdale nurse, Merryl Hoey.

                Merryl has returned from Benin, West Africa, after three weeks of voluntary service onboard the world's largest non-governmental hospital ship Africa Mercy, operated by the international Christian charity Mercy Ships.   It was her third such time of service.   She spent three weeks in Ghana in 2007 with Mercy Ships, and nearly a month last year in Liberia.   Then and now, she paid her own way to get there and back, as well as paying crew fees for accommodation and food, all helping to defray costs of operating the ship.

                "Once those around me heard of the life changing surgeries and the stories of healing taking place in these countries, which are among the world's poorest, they were extremely encouraging and supportive.   I work at the Mater Private Hospital at Cleveland, where co-workers, the hospital auxiliary, some of the surgeons and management helped financially through donations, making cakes for morning teas and raffles.  I have also had opportunities to speak at churches and other groups on my previous work with Mercy Ships."

"I heard of the work from a long serving volunteer fistula surgeon, Dr Judith Goh, and have had an interest in cross cultural mission work for a long time.  My husband and I spend six years with Mission Aviation Fellowship during the 1980s in Papua New Guinea and Central Australia.  Now that my family are grown, I was looking for opportunities to use my nursing skills to help other others on a short-term basis.

                "So I made the long trip from Brisbane to Benin.   The flight was via Singapore, Dubai, Paris and on to Cotonou in Benin.  The return trip was by the same route, very tiring and very expensive.    But all of that is worth it once you have seen the smiles on the faces of patients and their families following a range of surgeries to correct disability, deformity and blindness.   While I worked in the operating theatres, of which there are six on the Africa Mercy, more than 400 volunteers from around the world were involved in a wide range of medical and community development projects, all aimed at helping to bring hope and healing."

                One of the areas of surgery in which I was involved aimed to repair obstetric fistulas in women, resulting from prolonged or difficult childbirth, in most cases also resulting in the death of the baby.  "Girls are married very young in many African nations.  That factor, along with poor antenatal care, poor health and often stunted growth due to poor nutrition, combined with very long labour up to 3-4 days with tribal birth attendants, often results in post birth fistulas and incontinence.   Most of these women are then rejected by their family and husband, they are unable to work and frequently ostracized by their village community."

                "Following successful repair surgery to make them ‘dry', special dress ceremonies are held onboard.  There is with much singing and dancing by the women who have been given a new set of colourful clothing to signify their new start in life.   I remember               one woman who told us she had been ‘wet' since her first pregnancy in 1980 - that was the year I was married.  I just could not imagine how those years had been for her, ostracized, wasted and childless.   I had tears in my eyes listening to her story.   Now three operations later, this woman was ‘dry'.  She was not thinking of the wasted years.  She was joyful about her future, singing and dancing with years of joy in her eyes.  It was so amazing."

                "Another highlight involved a six-year-old girl who had a big tumour about the size of an orange on her face.  The tumour pushed her left eye out.  She was accompanied to the ship by her grandmother who was very anxious.   Surgery took six hours.  Later I went to recovery and grandma was sitting with this little girl.  She came to me smiling and hugging me and getting me to dance with her.  I could not understand a word she said, but her face shone with joy and thankfulness.  The work being done in the countries of West Africa by Mercy Ships volunteers is amazing," Merryl concludes.

Mercy Ships is a global charity that has operated hospital ships in developing nations since 1978.   Following the example of Jesus, Mercy Ships brings hope and healing to the poor, mobilizing people and resources worldwide. The emphasis is on the needs of the world's poorest nations in West Africa, where the hospital ship Africa Mercy provides the platform for services extending up to ten months at a time.  Mercy Ships works on land-based projects in Sierra Leone in partnership with other organisations, while teams also work in several nations of Central America and the Caribbean.  Mercy Ships Australia, one of 14 international support offices is based on the Queensland Sunshine Coast. www.mercyships.org.au

17 September 2009

            "I had wanted for a long time to use my work skills to serve others in a less fortunate country and looked at many areas where I felt I could go," says Lab Technician, Naomi Heal of Armidale, a member of a Bingara-Warialda family.

            "A friend suggested I investigate offering to serve with Mercy Ships.  I looked at the website and made contact with the laboratory manager who responded immediately ‘I'm recruiting.  When can you come?'  I am sure that was the very direct push I needed to make my decision."

            Naomi is just back from two months service as a volunteer on the Africa Mercy, the world's largest non-governmental hospital ship, currently on assignment in the West African nation of Benin, one of the world's poorest countries.  After majoring for her Bachelor of Science in pathology, she has worked in Tamworth and Armidale, currently as supervising medical scientist with a multi-disciplinary private pathology laboratory specialising in haematology, transfusion medicine, biochemistry and coagulation.

            "There was positive response to my decision to go from those around me," she says.  "I had talked about doing something like this for a number of years and I think everyone was glad to see me stop talking and start doing."

            "Onboard, it was difficult sometimes to remember I was in Africa providing pathology services as part of what was being done to provide specialist surgery for people with such great needs.  The first class laboratory made me feel like I was working in a lab at home.  But when I went out into the wards it became very clear that without such laboratory facilities many of the surgeries could simply not take place safely.  For me, it was very much working behind the scenes."

            "It seemed the list of surgical needs for the people of Benin was endless.  Obstetric fistula

is a huge problem for women, leaving them completely debilitated physically, socially and emotionally.  Affected women often suffer for years and are abandoned by family and the community.   Large tumours of many sizes, body locations and natures are common.  Hernias seem prevalent among people of all ages.  Many children have cleft lip and palate problems, or club feet.  Thyroid goiters are left to grow to huge proportions.   Then there are so many problems related just to living conditions and lack of nourishment."

            Naomi says there were many highlights.  "I had the privilege of attending what is known as a dress ceremony for women following surgery to correct obstetric fistulas.   As a symbol of their new start to life each woman is given a new set of colourful clothes.  One of the women was fortunate that her baby lived and her husband stuck by her, a rare occurrence.  Most lose their babies and are abandoned by husbands and families.   Another woman had suffered 13 years, and had spent those years crawling around in the belief that such actions would heal her.   She needed rehabilitation following surgery to learn to walk again.  It was wonderful to watch her dancing around the ward.   These women broke into singing and dancing, giving praise to God for their healing.   There was hope in the eyes of women healed, and a longing in their hearts for success of surgery for other women still waiting to become ‘dry'."

            "My eight weeks away brought home again the vast differences between living standards in the developed and the developing world, and how material we have become in our part of the world.   One thing struck me about the people of Benin.   Despite their lack of material things, the people who have so little and struggle so much are happy.   They smile as they go about their work.  It was a great experience working with volunteers from around the world serving with Mercy Ships, all seeking to follow the example of Jesus in bringing hope and healing to the poor," she concludes.

Mercy Ships is a global charity that has operated hospital ships in developing nations since 1978. The emphasis is on the needs of the world's poorest nations in West Africa, where the hospital ship Africa Mercy provides the platform for services extending up to ten months at a time.  Mercy Ships works on land-based projects in Sierra Leone in partnership with other organisations, while teams also work in several nations of Central America and the Caribbean.  Mercy Ships Australia, one of 14 international support offices, is based on the Queensland Sunshine Coast. www.mercyships.org.au

30 August 2009

            "I saw one man coming to the ship for surgery with a hernia so big he was carrying it in a wheelbarrow," says Canberra Hospital operating theatre nurse Helen Boyd.

            She has just returned from a month's service as a volunteer on the Africa Mercy, the world's largest non-governmental hospital ship, currently on assignment to Benin in West Africa.   "This is the kind of medical condition we never see in Australia.   I wonder where people like this would be in the countries of West Africa without the presence of an organisation like Mercy Ships."

            Helen heard from a friend at work about the work done by volunteers who give of their time and go at their own expense to serve for periods of a few weeks to a lifetime.   She had the opportunity a few years ago of working in Java for 16 days following a devastating earthquake, and had the desire to do more to help others in need.  Her two older children followed that example and have worked as volunteers in the Philippines, Cambodia and Africa.

            "With more than 30 years experience in operating theatres, I am fortunate to have a skill to offer and pleased I have had the opportunity to offer that skill to serve in Benin, one of the world's poorest nations where there is such a great need.  Some of those around me at work are almost jealous about what I was able to do.  They also raised a substantial sum of money for me to spend on patients onboard the hospital ship.  I arrived with a very small backpack holding my belongings, and an enormous suitcase holding all manner of things from toothbrushes and toothpaste needed by dental hygienists working in community clinics, to small cars for children in the ship's hospital."

            "The work being done by Mercy Ships in Africa is absolutely amazing.  In Australia we are sheltered from the afflictions and diseases these people suffer.  We read about the conditions but can really only appreciate if by seeing it for ourselves.   To be able to help in some small way has been a privilege," she says.

            Helen understood that many of the surgical procedures she would be involved with would be long and big.  The ship has six operating theatres.  "Some of my work was in the eye theatres.  Each may have two patients at a time undergoing cataract surgery.  That means four patients at the same time.  This surgery tends to be quick, and by its nature is almost instantly rewarding as the blind regain their sight.   I was shocked by the young age of some of my eye patients.  The youngest I had was only three with bilateral cataracts."  

"The poor little child was so placid when brought into the theatre because he was blind and used to having no idea who or what was around him.  I thought that my children would have screamed and carried on if they had been taken from me by a stranger.  Because of the fierceness of the sun and exposure to wind and no protection from hats and sunglasses, the things we take for granted, the incidence of cataracts in countries like Benin is very great.    During my time onboard, many specialised surgeries were scheduled for hernias and goiters."

The level of poverty is something Helen says we cannot imagine living in such a blessed country as Australia.   "It's an absolutely grinding poverty.  There's a lack of education and a lack of basic infrastructure.   Houses, if you can call them that, have no running water.  Everyone seems to lead a hand to mouth existence to the extent that many of the people screened for possible surgery could not be accepted.  They are so malnourished they simply would not survive the anaesthetic.   The basic diet itself leads to many health problems."

After 48 hours of travelling from Australia to reach Benin, Helen said she felt like a piece of chewed string and wondered if the effort was worth it.  But now she has returned from the experience she will be busy telling everyone about it.  "I know not everyone can be helped.  But it has been wonderful to have been involved in some small part in what Mercy Ships is doing," she concludes.

Mercy Ships is a global charity that has operated hospital ships in developing nations since 1978.   Following the example of Jesus, Mercy Ships brings hope and healing to the poor, mobilizing people and resources worldwide.

Mercy Ships offers a range of health and community development services free of charge.  Highly skilled surgeons on board the ships perform thousands of operations each year to correct disability, disfigurement and blindness.   Medical and dental teams travel the countries and establish clinics to provide vaccination programs, dental treatment and basic health care for those with no access to these facilities.  Local community health workers receive training in hygiene, nutrition and disease prevention.  Mercy Ships builds hospitals, clinics, training facilities and basic housing where none exist.   Agricultural projects help replenish livestock in war-torn areas and boost food production.   Working in partnership with local people, Mercy Ships empowers communities to help themselves.    The result is a way out of poverty.

The emphasis is on the needs of the world's poorest nations in West Africa, where the hospital ship Africa Mercy provides the platform for services extending up to ten months at a time.  Mercy Ships works on land-based projects in Sierra Leone in partnership with other organisations, while teams also work in several nations of Central America and the Caribbean.  There are 14 support offices around the world, including the Australian office on the Queensland Sunshine Coast. www.mercyships.org.au

9 August 2009

                "My mother's great compassion and care for others instilled in me from a young age that we are all children of God, and sometimes we just need a helping hand on the journey through life."

                That is what Catherine Kelly of Keilor in Melbourne believes gave her the desire to offer herself for service among volunteers with Mercy Ships in the West African nation of Benin, one of the world's poorest nations.   "I don't think it has anything to do with what skills we possess.   It is more about how deeply we feel for those around us less fortunate than we are.  I am simply a mum wanting to reach out and touch the lives of those who need help in whatever way God wants me to."

                Catherine spent more than a month working as a dining room steward onboard the Africa Mercy, docked in the port of Cotonou for ten months.  She was among more than 400 volunteers from around the world providing a range of free medical and community development services to the people of Benin.  As with others onboard she paid her own way to and from Benin and paid crew fees while there to help offset the ship's running costs.

                "As a teenager in Ireland where I grew up, my girlfriends and I would take part in charity walks for needy causes and raise funds for those in need.  It was just part of who we were and we had a lot of fun doing it."

                "I had never heard of the work being done by Mercy Ships until I was visiting New South Wales on holidays.  I overheard a conversation in which a man was talking about the way he had served on the ship as a welder.   That very day I made the decision to go and help out, no matter what!  I went on the Internet, applied to go and counted the days anxiously to see if I was accepted or not.   I was over the moon when the reply was positive and could hardly contain myself.  I applied for long service leave and arranged for a replacement at work."

                "My adult children were not that keen on my leaving for Africa.   They had never heard of Mercy Ships, or of Benin for that matter.  The principal of the school where I work encouraged me through the process, but I have to admit there were a few odd looks from some around me.  There was not one person around the college who knew of Mercy Ships, but let me tell you that's about to change now that I have done what I have done."

                Catherine says her experiences, being involved with others whose skills were really bringing hope and healing to the needy, have changed her life.  "I don't think my life will ever be the same again," she says.  "None of us can really make this journey alone through life.  We need each other in so many different ways.  Sometimes it takes us so long to dust ourselves down and get back on our bikes.  Sometimes it's that helping hand that picks us up when we are least expecting it.  That care, that compassion, comes from God through others."

                In Benin, I could see that principle at work in what Mercy Ships volunteers are doing.  "It was in responding to such great needs, in watching the pain of a mother struggling to find a helping hand for a child, in looking into the faces of those who displayed a hopeless and sinking feeling.   Then I saw those expressions of hopelessness change to ones of hope as they realised the help that had come to this poor nation in the form of crew members on a huge white ship docked in port.   Here there was a recognition that others had come to stay for a month or for years with Mercy Ships to share their blessings with others in need of receiving healing and hearing the message of hope."

                "The whole experience was about reaching out to others.  That is why I went.   This has been a new journey in life for me.  Twelve months ago I would never have believed I would have the opportunity to serve others as I have done in West Africa.   This experience has humbled me.  Such an experience for others may also change the journey they are on.  We can make a difference in someone else's life if we are prepared to risk it," Catherine concludes.

Mercy Ships is a global charity that has operated hospital ships in developing nations since 1978.   Following the example of Jesus, Mercy Ships brings hope and healing to the poor, mobilizing people and resources worldwide.  More on www.mercyships.org.au

27 July 2009

My most interesting, meaningful and satisfying job

            With almost 20 years of nursing experience, working in more than 15 countries, Cairns nurse Lee Ann Kostelnik describes her most recent time of voluntary service with Mercy Ships in the West African nation of Benin as the most interesting, meaningful, satisfying ... and the most fun job she has had.

            It was Lee Ann's second time of service ... the last was with Mercy Ships during 2007 in Ghana.  This trip was a little easier to manage, as she was working in the Channel Islands off the coast of France and needed only to fly from Paris to Benin.  Her three months onboard the Africa Mercy, the world's largest non-governmental hospital ship, was spent as an intensive care nurse, working mostly with infants and toddlers. 

            Lee Ann describes herself as a travel nurse, taking short-term contacts around the world.  "I have backpacked everywhere.   Even during my university years I always pictured myself working in faraway or remote places.  There was a natural desire to help others less fortunate.  But after several stints with non-government organisations in Borneo and Japan I began to lose heart in working with such groups as there appeared to be no long-term change in the communities once we left.  I really wanted to leave a beneficial and lasting impact where I volunteered."

            "That's the real difference serving with Mercy Ships and its focus on following the example of Jesus to bring hope and healing to the world's forgotten poor.   In Benin, so many of the people don't have the financial means to obtain medical care.   As a result, conditions which are normally treatable at the onset of problems are left to worsen, even if affordable, but have become untreatable in West Africa."

            Lee Ann says there has been mixed reaction from people around her to what she does.  "Most people I talk to say they admire me for going, something they could never see themselves doing as they have no understanding of working in the developing world.  I always tell them that if a nurse with only the experience I have can do it, so can they.   Some wonder why anyone would want to volunteer and pay to do so, in keeping with the aims of Mercy Ships requiring all volunteers to pay their own way to and from the country where the hospital ship is operating and also to pay crew fees onboard to help offset the running costs, thus enabling specialist surgeries and a range of community development programs to be offered completely free of charge."

            As well as working as a paediatric nurse, she was involved in screening of possible patients for surgery in one of the ship's six operating theatres, visited local orphanages and worked with local pastors establishing new village churches.

            From a medical point of view there were many highlights.  "I felt in my element when we admitted an infant with a tumour on the neck that had been left to grow unchecked.  By the time of surgery, the tumour was almost as big as the baby's head.  Because of my background I was able to nurse this child following surgery and during the recovery process in the hospital ward.  There was another 10-year-old boy.  His calf was completely webbed to the back of his thigh as a result of a burn contracture.   When he was admitted, the boy was curled up in a fetal position, depressed and non-communicative with the staff.  Over the weeks, we spent a lot of time with him providing physical therapy, wound care and lots of encouragement.  He gradually came out of his shell, and by the time of his discharge he was excited to go back to his village and show off his repaired leg.  He was so appreciative of what we foreign people on the big white ship had done for him."

            Lee Ann says there were no bad things about her decision to serve for a second time with Mercy Ships in Africa.   But there were plenty of good things.  "It was simply wonderful so see people healed, and their lives changed physically and spiritually.   I will be keeping an eye on future plans for the Africa Mercy and the possible opportunity of being involved in another of the ship's ten-month assignments, from beginning to end in a country where Mercy Ships has not yet visited."

Mercy Ships is a global charity that has operated hospital ships in developing nations since 1978.   Following the example of Jesus, Mercy Ships brings hope and healing to the poor, mobilizing people and resources worldwide.

Mercy Ships offers a range of health and community development services free of charge.  Highly skilled surgeons perform thousands of operations each year to correct disability, disfigurement and blindness.   Medical and dental teams travel the countries and establish clinics to provide vaccination programs, dental treatment and basic health care for those with no access to these facilities.  Local community health workers receive training in hygiene, nutrition and disease prevention.

Mercy Ships builds hospitals, clinics, training facilities and basic housing where none exist.   Agricultural projects help replenish livestock in war-torn areas and boost food production.   Working in partnership with local people, Mercy Ships empowers communities to help themselves.    The result is a way out of poverty.

The emphasis is on the needs of the world's poorest nations in West Africa, where the hospital ship Africa Mercy provides the platform for services extending up to ten months at a time.  Mercy Ships works on land-based projects in Sierra Leone in partnership with other organisations, while teams also work in several nations of Central America and the Caribbean.  There are 14 support offices around the world, including the Australian office on the Queensland Sunshine Coast. www.mercyships.org.au

July 20, 2009

Food for Life in West Africa

Australian volunteer working in Benin

            A Port Macquarie man serving as a volunteer with Mercy Ships is playing a big part in a project aimed at increasing food security and agricultural production in Benin, one of the world's poorest nations.

            Karl Schmutter left his earth moving business two years ago to spend two months among volunteers from around the world serving with the global charity onboard its hospital ship Africa Mercy.   He said then he wanted a change in his life, a change that would help someone in genuine need of something more than money could fix.

            That two months in Ghana led to further training at the international headquarters of Mercy Ships in the United States, and Karl now serves as a construction supervisor in a long-term capacity.  As with all of the volunteers on the world's largest non-governmental hospital ship - more than 400 at any one time - he pays his own way to be there.

            Food For Life is the name of one of the projects being undertaken during the current ten-month assignment to Benin in West Africa.   Mercy Ships is working with a local faith-based organization engaged in health and social development programs.   Volunteers are working with local people to develop an agricultural training centre to provide teaching in farming skills.   Schmutter's role with the project is supervising construction of an on-site dormitory to house up to 30 people while they are receiving training.

            Schmutter says, "I go out to the construction site 35 kilometres from the port of Cotonou where the Africa Mercy is docked to make sure the site managers have everything they need and that things are running smoothly.  I also do a bit of financial bookwork and make sure that the bills are paid."

            Labour for the construction is contracted locally.   "We use the people from the community to do as much work as possible, empowering them to help themselves.  Mercy Ships works mainly in s supervisory role.   Some of those involved already have skills in carpentry and masonry, and the program also aims to provide new skills to others, and they in turn teach others."  Building materials are obtained locally, including sand, cement, gravel, steel and timber.  Bricks for the walls are made on site from sand and cement.

            Mercy Ships is partnering with a Beninese organization, Bethesda, which has won a number of international awards for its developmental projects.   Food For Life will train and mentor agricultural staff members in organic farming practices and prepare them to oversee the work and success of future trainees who will be responsible for teaching others about sustainable farming methods.   Much of the training is based on Farming God's Way, an African organization which focuses on helping the church to become better practitioners of improved agricultural methods and to encourage proper stewardship of the land and resources.   Farming God's Way has operated successfully for 28 years throughout Africa, growing a wide variety of crops including maize, soybeans, sorghum, wheat, groundnuts, beans, cowpeas and vegetables.

            Each of the local training programs extending over three months will involve about 30 participants, many of whom are expected to be young women who will then return to their villages to teach new farming practices to others.  When Mercy Ships leaves Benin at the end of the year, Bethesda personnel will continue to offer the teaching program to new trainees.

            "With other building projects planned in the coming months, agriculture and construction are just some of the ways Mercy Ships is helping to effectively uplift the people of Benin, providing facilities that will last long after the ship and volunteers have departed," Schmutter concludes.

 Mercy Ships is a global charity that has operated hospital ships in developing nations since 1978.   Following the example of Jesus, Mercy Ships brings hope and healing to the poor, mobilizing people and resources worldwide.  The emphasis is on the needs of the world's poorest nations in West Africa, where the hospital ship Africa Mercy provides the platform for services extending up to ten months at a time.  Mercy Ships works on land-based projects in Sierra Leone in partnership with other organisations, while teams also work in several nations of Central America and the Caribbean.  There are 14 support offices around the world, including the Australian office on the Queensland Sunshine Coast. www.mercyships.org.au

9 July 2009

It's up to us to obey

            "If God calls you to go somewhere or do something, it is up to us to obey his calling," says Tamworth Dental Assistant Dell Adams, who has just finished two months of service as a volunteer with Mercy Ships in Benin, West Africa.

            Dell heard that call through a nurse working in the operating theatre at Tamworth Hospital.  "I was attending the hospital with a patient who required dental surgery at a hospital instead of in the dentist's chair.   I listened to that nurse telling of her experience with Mercy Ships, and was struck by her excitement and enthusiasm.   All of that captured me, and I had a longing to go as a volunteer with the global charity and help the people of Africa."

            "That was seven years ago.   Now I have done it, having served as one among the 400 volunteer crew onboard the Africa Mercy which is the world's largest non-governmental hospital ship.   I needed to wait until my family situation was suitable.  Our children had to be old enough and independent enough for me to leave them for an extended time."

            She says God guided her through the years of waiting.   "I learnt more about Mercy ships through a friend.  I listened to the Mercy Minute on radio, met Mercy Ships representatives and read the history of the charity.  All of that helped keep the dream alive of one day serving in Africa.  I had the support of my family, church and friends."

            "I worked as a Dental Assistant and Dental Therapist in Benin.  The dental health of the people is pretty much as I had expected.   The older members of the community have quite good teeth, although the teeth are worn down through chewing bones and wooden sticks.   Many of those under the age of 50 throughout Africa, however, have quite severely decayed teeth due to little or no dental hygiene teaching, and to the introduction of foods from the developed world, such as soft drinks, sweets and biscuits."

            The dental project during the ten-month assignment to Benin is called ‘Benin Smiles' and it is aimed at reducing the incidence of dental disease by providing dental education and treatments, such as restorations, extractions and cleaning.  Volunteers will provide dental care for more than 11,000 people affected by decay, infections of the mouth and small oral lesions.   Hygiene services will be provided to 1,400 and basic dental health education is being given to more than 1,000 elementary and secondary school student as well as to all of those attending dental clinics.   Mercy Ships is training 20 teachers to teach oral health in their classrooms, and several local people with appropriate skills are being trained as dental assistants and dental hygiene instructors.

            Dell has no regrets about her decision to make the long trip from Australia to Benin, all at her own cost.   "Life on the ship means living in a community of like-minded people, all there for the same purpose of serving God and serving the people of West Africa.  I was just one member of a team.   That is what makes it so important.   Each volunteer is just as important as the person working alongside.  It is often said that Mercy Ships volunteers simply follow the example of Jesus in bringing hope and healing to the world's poor.  If God calls us, and we obey that calling, he will bless us for going."

            "There were many highlights," she says.  "It was wonderful to see happiness shining on the faces of patients we had helped, relieving their pain and fixing their problems.   For the future, whatever God wants me to do and wherever he wants me to go, I trust I will be able to obey."

            Mercy Ships is a global charity that has operated hospital ships in developing nations since 1978.   The emphasis is on the needs of the world's poorest nations in West Africa, where the hospital ship Africa Mercy provides the platform for services extending up to ten months at a time.  Mercy Ships works on land-based projects in Sierra Leone in partnership with other organisations, while teams also work in several nations of Central America and the Caribbean.  There are 14 support offices around the world, including the Australian office on the Queensland Sunshine Coast. www.mercyships.org.au

28 June 2009

A dream that kept coming back

            "For as long as I can remember I've wanted to spend my life helping people."

            Gold Coast medical scientist Sarah Louden, who is serving six months as a volunteer onboard the world's largest non-governmental hospital ship in West Africa, remembers telling her parents when she was in primary school she wanted to move to the middle of the African jungle when older to teach poor children. 

"Then when I realised being a school teacher wasn't for me, I decided instead to become a medical scientist and I didn't quite know how my dream of helping people less fortunate than me would really fit.  When I heard about the work of Mercy Ships and discovered that I could use my gifts and talents to serve as a volunteer in one of the world's poorest nations something jumped inside me.   Ever since, and then working with Mercy Ships has been a dream that has kept coming back time and time again," she says.

            Sarah gained a Bachelors Degree in medical science and spent three years working as a medical scientist with QML Pathology in hospital laboratories on the Gold Coast.  "When I first sought information from Mercy Ships I was told I should have a minimum of two years experience, and they were right.  It has been quite a learning curve, especially since a long-term staff member onboard the hospital ship Africa Mercy left a week and half after I reached Benin.  I had to cram as much of the information she had learned during her 15-month stay in that week and a half.  So in that time I went from new technologist to senior technologist."

            After saving for a year and with the help of some friends to support herself for the six months onboard, in line with all of the more than 400 volunteers serving on the ship at any one time, Sarah made the long trip from Brisbane via Bangkok, Nairobi and Lagos to Cotonou in Benin.   She will return to Australia via Kenya.

            "I work as a medical technologist in the hospital laboratory, performing a range of tests on patients before and after surgery.   Much of the work relates to the ship's walking blood bank - volunteer blood donors among the crew.   When blood is needed during surgery, we find crew members with the correct blood type, take blood from them and deliver the blood straight to one of the six operating theatres.   During my third week in the job the hospital staff had real problems stopping a patient from bleeding.   It was pretty scary not being able to keep up with the demand for blood.  But it was amazing how the crew came together.  They heard we needed A Positive type blood, and started lining up outside the lab.  We came through saving a patient's life, knowing that we had pulled together to do it.  What an experience!"

            It was also something of an experience comparing life in Australia to that in Benin.  "I didn't really know what to expect before I arrived.  This West African country is so different.  There is a lot of voodoo mixed in with Christian or Muslim beliefs and practices.   But the people are so welcoming because they know we have come to help.  From a work point of view, it is very different.  In Australia I work in a hospital lab, mostly associated with intensive care, emergency and oncology.  Onboard, the focus is on a range of surgical procedures.  I know that a good challenge forces you to grow and make you capable of doing even greater tasks.  Socially, the time has also been rather interesting.  We live in a very close community.  It's hard to find time to be alone, since it isn't safe to walk alone off the ship.   Volunteers are coming and going and it is hard making firm friendships you know will be split when you stay and they leave."

            "I am certain this is the place God wants me to be at this moment, and that is why I feel so at home in Africa.  I also know God is making me grow and is changing me in so many ways.  I am challenged by how materialistic society is in the developed world.  But when you see poverty as it is in Benin, yet still see kids playing and laughing in the midst of their ‘nothingness' you realise how useless is all the stuff we run after.  These are people who are happy in the simplicity of life, a relationship with God and with people.  I am sure these are the things that bring fulfillment, and not the material possessions that western society deems so important.

            Sarah does not know what her future holds.  "I wonder if I can return to so-called normal life after this.  The experience really puts life into perspective.  I plan to go to medical school on my return to Australia and hope to be able to do this type of work in the future.  I love getting to the end of each working day knowing my work has contributed to giving so many people the chance at a better life."

            Mercy Ships is an international Christian charity that has operated hospital ships in developing nations since 1978.   Following the example of Jesus, Mercy Ships brings hope and healing to the poor, mobilizing people and resources worldwide.        The emphasis is on the needs of the world's poorest nations in West Africa, where the hospital ship Africa Mercy provides the platform for services extending up to ten months at a time.  Mercy Ships works on land-based projects in Sierra Leone in partnership with other organisations, while teams also work in several nations of Central America and the Caribbean.  There are 14 support offices around the world, including the Australian office on the Queensland Sunshine Coast. www.mercyships.org.au

18 June 2009

A train ride decision

            "We were on a train between Gosford and Sydney, and by the time we reached Sydney I had made up my mind to volunteer with Mercy Ships."

            Marie Whitehead from the Adelaide suburb of Enfield says she has always had a desire to serve the poor for as long as she can remember, and has been actively associated with the St Vincent De Paul Society and as a member of Co Workers of Mother Teresa.  "There was also an ambition to serve in some missionary field, but it was that train journey a year ago which provided the opportunity of the short-term service with Mercy Ships in Benin, one of the world's poorest nations," she says.

            "I was given a copy of War Cry by a Salvation Army Officer at Gosford in New South Wales.   The magazine contained a feature article on the work done by volunteers serving with Mercy Ships, and my mind was made up as I read that story during the trip."

            Marie is due home at the end of June after serving two months as an Admissions Nurse on the Africa Mercy, the world's largest non-governmental hospital ship which has six operating theatres, a 78-bed hospital and more than 400 crew.  The Christian charity has since 1978 used ships as the platform to provide a range of health care and community development programs at no cost to the forgotten poor, following the example of Jesus.  Volunteers pay their own way and pay crew fees to help offset the ship's running costs.

            "It was quite a job getting to Benin to join the ship. I needed references, accumulate leave, work in with management to fill my position, ensure other family and community commitments were covered, fill out forms, have vaccinations, book flights via Kuala Lumpur, Amsterdam, Paris and Cotonou, check this was the right thing to do including leaving my husband of 36 years at home, and hand it over to the Lord." 

            "My work onboard involved meeting people on the dock due for surgery the following day, escorting them and family members onto the ship, interviewing patients through a translator, setting their minds at ease, showing them the hospital routine and then carrying out routine observations and tests needed prior to surgery.

            "I did have a few fears leaving home, mostly about having to learn a new job and being forced out of my comfort zone.  And I surely was pushed out of that comfort zone.  But the experience has surpassed all of my expectations, and words cannot describe how I feel.  Each new day has brought a new experience and a learning curve.  The quality of workmanship and the level of commitment displayed by all of the volunteers working in the hospital and out in the community of Benin has been outstanding.

            "Many different types of surgery are performed, but I have been privileged to be involved in one special type of surgery.  A surgeon was carrying out repairs to correct obstetric fistulas on women who had sustained damage during obstructed or delayed childbirth.   We saw a lot of women suffering from incontinence.   They were women who had been shunned by their families and ostracized by their communities.  These women are forced to live outside society, and some had been virtually rounded up from their mountain hideouts where they were forced to live.   Following surgery to correct their fistulas, the women get special treatment from the staff.  They have their nails painted, hands massaged, and they receive colourful bags for their toiletries.   There is a special dress ceremony when each woman is given a new outfit in the fabric of her choice to signify her new start to life ... dry.  There is much singing and dancing."

            Marie sums up her two-month trip away.  "I have had a huge awakening.  Hopefully, it will stay with me in the future.  One would have to be blind not to see this as God's work," she says.

            The emphasis is on the needs of the world's poorest nations in West Africa, where the hospital ship Africa Mercy provides the platform for services extending up to ten months at a time.  Mercy Ships works on land-based projects in Sierra Leone in partnership with other organisations, while teams also work in several nations of Central America and the Caribbean.  There are 14 support offices around the world, including the Australian office on the Queensland Sunshine Coast. www.mercyships.org.au

11 June 2009

A floating walking Blood Bank

World Blood Donor Day - June 14

            As Australia hosts this year's World Blood Donor Day on June 14, several Australians are associated with one of the world's more unusual blood banks.

It's a floating and walking blood bank onboard the Africa Mercy, the world's largest non-governmental hospital ship, operated by Mercy Ships and currently on assignment to one of the world's poorest nations, Benin in West Africa.

            Here the blood is not stored in a refrigerator, it does not stay in neatly labeled packages for days or weeks.  The blood bank is the 400 member crew who sign up to give blood to help patients in ship's hospital with its six operating theatres.

            "The blood bank onboard is unique in that it is a ‘walking' blood bank," says Lab Technician Sarah Louden of the Queensland Gold Coast.   "We usually have about 30 potential donors for each blood type.  The laboratory onboard compares the patient blood samples taken and tested upon admission with potential crew donors and then we make calls to crew donors as needed."

            Currently, 118 crew members are signed up to donate blood.  They can be called at any time day or night to give blood, and then it is walked straight over to the patient for transfusion while it is still warm.   With the help of Mercy Ships walking blood bank, surgeons serving as volunteers on the Africa Mercy will help change the lives of thousands of people during the 10 month stay in port.

            One of the blood donors is Tim Benson of Brisbane, who works in the ship's shop and Starbucks Café.   He was previously a cook in the galley for a year.  Tim has been a blood donor on the ship for almost a year and a half, and in that time says he has had two different opportunities to give the gift of life through blood donation.

            "I signed up to be a blood donor because I thought it was a cool opportunity where I could help out without much effort on my part.  And it's cool because you actually get to meet the person that you donate to.   If you donate back home, you don't get to meet the person you donate to.  But here, it goes straight out of your body into theirs."

            "Just recently I met Ambroise after his surgery," Tim says.   Amrborise is 32.  He was born with a small tumour on his shoulder.  As he grew the tumour grew and spread along his arm.    Earlier this, Ambrosie was listening to the radio and hear about Mercy Ships coming to Benin.   He wrote the date but forgot about it.  So when he passed a stadium on his motorbike taxi later he wondered why there were crowds.   He stopped and asked someone and was told that Mercy Ships was screening patients for potential surgery.  He got in line and stayed there.

            Following surgery, the surgeon told him it was difficult because he was bleeding a lot, and crew members gave him blood.   Surgery was stopped.  During the second surgery, more crew members gave blood, and the doctor introduced his donors to him.

            Tim Benson says, "I met Ambroise about a week after his surgery.  I could tell he was new and how his arm moved, and he was quite happy.  It was very nice to meet him, and he was really happy to meet me."

            Mercy Ships delivers free world-class health care services to those without access in the developing world.  Founded in 1978, Mercy Ships has worked in more than 70 countries.   Volunteers include surgeons, dentists, nurses, health care trainers, teachers, cooks, seamen, engineers and agriculturalists - all donating their time and skills to the effort, following the example of Jesus in bringing hope and healing to the world's forgotten poor. www.mercyships.org.au

5 June 2009

            “Even in countries where obstetric fistula is common, many in the general public remain unaware of its cause and therefore its prevention.   It really is a silent tragedy.”

            Those are the words of Brisbane urogynaecologist, Dr Hannah Krause, who has returned from West Africa again as a volunteer with Mercy Ships performing corrective surgery on a small number of the millions of women still suffering silently.

            “Over the past 14 years I have made several trips to Africa, and first became aware of obstetric fistula while working as a resident doctor in a rural hospital.  Women came to the hospital as a result of obstructed labour during childbirth.   Babies were stillborn, and the mother sustained a fistula.   The big problem is that many such women are shunned by family and their community and are forced to become outcasts, hidden away with their shame.”

            After seeing the problems faced by African women, Dr Krause received training at the now famous Addis Ababa fistula hospital.   Since then she has returned to West Africa to perform fistula surgery and to train local surgeons in the procedure.  Her most recent time was spent in Benin onboard the hospital ship Africa Mercy, operated by Mercy Ships.   “As with most of my visits to West Africa, I go for a short time – usually a few weeks – arrive, work hard, then leave.   So I don’t often get to see much of the country apart from during my days off.   What I do see, however, is always very confronting.  The level of poverty and suffering is heart-breaking.”     

            “I have a lot of compassion for these women.   I try to help by visiting various fistula centres, usually in Africa, to perform surgery.   I usually go about twice a year for a few weeks each time during my holidays.  It is hard work, but the results are so worthwhile when you see women’s lives restored.  My patients are so amazing and resilient.  I learn so much from them.  God has given me my skills and training, enabling me to do this work.  When I operate I pray that these women will be healed physically, spiritually and emotionally.

            “The fistula women have very tragic life stories.  Most have lost a child in labour and the fistula caused by the long labour causes them to leak urine and/or faeces continuously.  Some of the women we see have developed this injury only recently and are still grieving over the loss of the baby.   But most of those we see have had their fistula for years … some for more than 30 or 40 years.   It’s remarkable how such women have survived life despite the extreme adversity,” she concludes.

            Mercy Ships provides free corrective surgery for obstetric fistula patients onboard the Africa Mercy, currently on assignment to Benin, as well as at a dedicated fistula centre in Sierra Leone where Mercy Ships works in partnership with another organisation.   Patients also have opportunities to learn about community and maternal health, while other programs seek to increase awareness of the plight of women with fistulas.   When a patient is discharged there is a time of great rejoicing.  Each woman receives a new dress in the fabric of her choice, signifying a new beginning, while dancing and singing reflect the change.  

Discharge teaching includes instructions about sexual intercourse, family planning and the need to have caesarean delivery for subsequent pregnancies to reduce the risk of recurrence.  Provision for C-section surgeries is arranged with local providers who bill Mercy Ships for former patients.  In an effort to build fistula surgeon capacity in West Africa, Mercy Ships also provides training for local surgeons interested in contributing to the treatment of obstetric fistula in Africa.

Mercy Ships is an international Christian charity that has operated hospital ships in developing nations since 1978.   Following the example of Jesus, Mercy Ships brings hope and healing to the poor, mobilizing people and resources worldwide.  Mercy Ships offers a range of health and community development services free of charge.  Working in partnership with local people, Mercy Ships empowers communities to help themselves.    The result is a way out of poverty.

            The emphasis is on the needs of the world’s poorest nations in West Africa, where the hospital ship Africa Mercy provides the platform for services extending up to ten months at a time.  Mercy Ships works on land-based projects in Sierra Leone in partnership with other organisations, while teams also work in several nations of Central America and the Caribbean.  There are 14 support offices around the world, including the Australian office on the Queensland Sunshine Coast. www.mercyships.org.au