When launched next year, the Global Mercy will become the world’s largest purpose-built civilian hospital ship – and Rotary can be proud to play its part in the latest addition to the Mercy Ships’ fleet.
Earlier this summer, Rotary Great Britain and Ireland announced that the largest Rotary Foundation Global Grant of $1.125 million has been approved after little more than a year’s fund-raising.
This grant will enable Rotary and the charity Mercy Ships to fund a brand new, state of the art CT scanner, along with other vital equipment on board the impressive new vessel.
The Global Mercy will double the impact of Mercy Ships towards health care systems throughout West Africa.
Mercy Ships performed a life-changing operation on this young girl called Tene, who suffered from a condition called amniotic band, which affected her left foot
The money will provide a range of sophisticated medical equipment across the ship’s hospital decks, with six operating theatres, three infection isolation rooms, 147 ward beds, six post-operative recovery beds and four intensive care beds.
It will also provide training and education for local health care workers.
Mercy Ships UK’s Acting Executive Director, Joanne Balaam, said, “Mercy Ships is delighted to continue our long-standing partnership with Rotary.
“The Global Grant of $1.125 million will fund equipment on board our new teaching hospital, the Global Mercy, as we increase our capacity and realise a shared vision; to build self-sustaining healthcare systems, to change and save significantly more lives than ever before, and to leave a lasting legacy across the countries of Africa.
Earlier this summer, Rotary Great Britain and Ireland announced that the largest Rotary Foundation Global Grant of $1.125 million has been approved after little more than a year’s fund-raising.”
“To everyone who donated to this incredible campaign from all around the world, your gift truly makes a difference, thank you!”
Globally, two out of three people cannot access surgery when they need it.
This is because they cannot afford it, they cannot access it, or the service is simply not available in their country.
Every year, more than 18 million people die unnecessarily from conditions that could have been treated by surgery.
Mercy Ships uses hospital ships to respond to this global surgery crisis by reducing the surgical backlog in developing countries. The charity also provides training and mentoring of healthcare staff to increase local medical skills, while renovating local facilities in each of the countries which the hospital ships visit.
The money will provide a range of sophisticated medical equipment across the ship’s hospital decks, with six operating theatres, three infection isolation rooms, 147 ward beds, six post-operative recovery beds and four intensive care beds.
It is through this pioneering approach that Mercy Ships has been able to change and save lives for over 40 years.
One such life was Adama, a young mother from Guinea. Adama developed cataracts while she was pregnant with twins. By the time Adama gave birth she was completely blind.
Unable to access the simple surgery that would restore her sight, Adama would never see her new family.
It was not until Adama received a free, 20-minute procedure from Mercy Ships that she was able to see her children’s faces for the first time.
Over the Global Mercy’s expected lifespan of 50 years, it is estimated that more than 150,000 lives will be transformed through free surgery.
The new ship will enable Mercy Ships to reach more people in desperate need, train more local healthcare professionals and serve two nations at once.
To everyone who donated to this incredible campaign from all around the world, your gift truly makes a difference, thank you!”
The Rotary Global Grant was led by District 1260 (Bedfordshire, Buckinghamshire and Hertfordshire) and involved over 300 clubs from the UK and Ireland, Liberia, New Zealand, South Korea, Japan, Australia, and 13 states in the USA.
Paul Denton, Chair of District 1260 Global Grants Committee, said: “The grant galvanised the generosity of Rotary, truly capturing imaginations and hearts: 31 Rotary Districts, 341 clubs across the UK and the world from Oklahoma to Seoul all found a common cause to support Mercy Ships and shows that Rotary Opens Opportunities.”
Debbie Hodge, Rotary GB&I launched the Rotary Global Grant campaign at the Nottingham Showcase in May 2019 when she was Rotary GB&I President.
She said: “Little acts of kindness and generosity make a huge difference in an individual’s life, but join up all that kindness and generosity and you can change the lives of whole communities, whole nations and even a whole continent. This Global Grant of $1.125 million will do that!”
Over the Global Mercy’s expected lifespan of 50 years, it is estimated that more than 150,000 lives will be transformed through free surgery.
Henry Clarke, Mercy Ships’ UK Chairman, praised the partnership with Rotary International.
He added: “The equipment that we are now able to procure and install on board our new teaching hospital ship, the Global Mercy, with the monies raised by hundreds of Rotary clubs in the UK and overseas, will help to transform the lives of literally thousands of the world’s most poor and needy, people who would otherwise be without hope.
“Mercy Ships UK is privileged to be partnering once again with Rotary International. Ever since the first partnership with Rotary back in 2006, I have been truly amazed at the unwavering commitment and depth of interest of so many Rotarians in the life-changing surgical work of Mercy Ships.
“Thank you in advance on behalf of all those who you will have helped.”
The Global Mercy is currently undergoing the final stages of construction, with the aim of sailing into active service by the end of 2021.
