Kiwis’ caring Christmas in Madagascar

Kiwis’ caring Christmas in Madagascar

Toamasina, Madagascar; 17 December 2014: A group of compassionate Kiwis are bringing a whole new meaning to the gift of giving this Christmas. They have all signed up for a volunteer tour-of-duty on board the world’s largest civilian hospital ship, currently docked in Madagascar.

Operating theatres nurses, ward nurses, purser, engineer, receptionist and writer are all donating their professional skills with the international charity Mercy Ships. Their mission is to bring longed-for hopes of healing to reality.

The hospital ship Africa Mercy is docked in Toamasina, Madagascar for eight months and her crew are providing free surgical services alongside ophthalmic and dental clinics, to the poorest people in this developing nation.

Some of the New Zealanders are working on board for a few months, while others are part of the core Mercy Ships crew who volunteer for years at a time.

The 450 international humanitarian workers serve in medical, maritime and operational areas, enabling the Africa Mercy’s four theatre and five wards to provide free opthalmic, orthopaedic, obstetric fistula, maxilla-facial, burns and plastics, and some general (hernia and goitre) surgery as well as the required post-op care. Patient care is supported by on board pharmacology, radiology, pathology and physiotherapy services, enabling the Mercy Ship to function at the highest standards while working in nations suffering from extreme poverty.

Each year the Mercy Ships crew provide more than 2,500 free surgeries and 20,000 free dental and ophthalmic services - life-changing gifts reflecting the very heart of Christmas!

See more about Mercy Ships http://vimeo.com/107254559

Information about volunteering at www.mercyships.org.nz

ENDS

Since 1978 Mercy Ships has provided health care services and materials in developing nations valued at over $1.17 billion, directly benefitting more than 2.48 million people including

• 608,200+ village patients treated with medical and dental procedures

• 74,400+ heath care professionals trained to train others

• 34,500+ health care professionals received training in their field of expertise

• 1,100+ completed community development projects

• 581 ship visits to 57 nations

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