In Australia, Mercy Ships is recognizing the efforts of a growing number of nurses from around the nation giving of their time and skills each year to serve as volunteers onboard the world's largest charity hospital ship in West African nations. With 100 nursing positions at any given time onboard, Mercy Ships requires around 750-800 nurses of all kinds to volunteer for a new 10 month field service in West African country each year. Some give two weeks to several months of service; others give years and call the ship their home.
"Changed lives change lives," says Mercy Ships co-founder Deyon Stephens who began her own career as a nurse and now manages Education programs and chaplaincy for Mercy Ships. "In the midst of reports about our own nursing shortages in the West during these times of recession, the even greater nursing shortages in West African nations severely limit the quality of care available to patients."
Jenny Ward, an Australian nurse serving during the current field service in Togo, has been one of the 15-member nursing team caring for 7-year old Aissa brought to the ship for surgery. Aissa suffers from a debilitating condition called Noma which has eaten away nearly one side of her face within recent years. Aissa was severely malnourished when she arrived. Abandoned by her parents due to the condition, she faced death without intervention. Surgery was unavailable in her country of Cameron, but thanks to funding from a charity set up by regular Mercy Ships volunteer and British doctor in training, Abi Boys, Aissa was able to fly from Cameroon with a Mercy Ships nurse for her surgery.
International Nurses Day is celebrated around the world every May 12, the anniversary of Florence Nightingale's birth. This year's International Year of the Nurse also marks the centenary of the death of Florence Nightingale. To celebrate, the 2010 Year of the Nurse was established to involve the world's nurses (estimated at more than 15 million) in a celebration of commitment to bring health to their communities, locally and worldwide.
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.
On the web: www.mercyships.org.au