Hospital Ship Honours Kiwi Nurses: International Nurses Day

Hospital Ship Honours Kiwi Nurses on International Nurses Day (May 12th)

Lomé, Togo. 10 May 2012 - For more than 30 years, nurses from all over New Zealand have given up their time and volunteered with Mercy Ships hospital ship to help people less fortunate than themselves, bringing hope and healing to thousands of patients suffering in poverty. The international charity provides free medical services to the poorest people of Africa.

International Nurses Day recognises the remarkable work that nurses do around the globe and the comfort they bring to patients undergoing complex surgeries and receiving first-world medical care. Many patients who come onboard the Africa Mercy, the world’s largest charity hospital ship, have never seen a ship or a hospital before, and they feel scared and very alone. The nurses onboard offer comfort and reassurance in the midst of state-of-the-art medical care.

Nurse Anna McKee from Waikaia, Southland reflected “Mercy Ships is so unique simply in the way it works! Volunteers from nearly 40 countries pay for the privilege of serving here in Africa to reduce the overheads of the ship’s operational costs. Despite this array of languages and denominational affiliations we live together in community – everybody has something to give, everyone has something to learn.”

Working with her onboard was Michelle Baines from Hastings. She comments, “I have worked twice on the Africa Mercy in recent years Both times I have been profoundly affected by the experience. The camaraderie between this diverse staff-both in range of occupation, and nationality is a special thing to be a part of. Being a small cog in this amazing team has been a gift to me. Some short term volunteers return year after year after year-giving of their holiday time to care for babes through to elderly people who are receive free life saving or life changing surgery from Mercy Ships.’

Graeme Walls, Mercy Ships New Zealand director, states: “Mercy Ships would not be able to carry on with the work that we do in developing nations if not for the dedicated and skilled nurses that give up their time every year to volunteer. Kiwi nurses are always greatly appreciated; their flexibility and ‘Can do’ attitude make them hugely popular co-workers. Mercy Ships has around 750 nurses in our outpatient clinics, three wards, and six operating theatres each year. The commitment of the nurses who volunteer is admired and cherished. We thank each one for their dedicated hard work.”

Mercy Ships has worked in over 70 countries providing healthcare services valued at more than $1.1 billion. The international faith-based charity has provided more than 61,000 free, life-changing operations, treated over 520,000 patients in village medical and dental clinics, and educated about 5,770 local health care workers - who have in turn trained multiple thousands in primary health care. Mercy Ships have re-trained and up-skilled over 29,400 local professionals in their areas of expertise (anaesthesiology, midwifery, instrument sterilization, orthopaedic and reconstructive surgery).

Mercy Ships is endorsed in their humanitarian effort by the New Zealand Medical Association. http://bit.ly/IN7z1h

Watch a YouTube video called Mercy Ships -Nurses on the Africa Mercy here:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AXNZt9C5zmY

Mercy Ships has over 750 international volunteer nurses annually, and has offices in 16 nations.

More information at www.mercyships.org.nz

ENDS

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