Mercy Ships UK Onboard Magazine | Summer 2023

Image: Dental student Francois training in the simulation lab at Gamal Abdel Nassar University in Conakry, Guinea.

Looking to the future

Welcome to your latest edition of Onboard magazine.

First, I want to thank you for supporting Mercy Ships by giving generously, by volunteering and sharing about our work with your church, community group and more.

Together, we are offering hope and healing to thousands of patients across Africa - changing one life at a time.

You will be glad to know that earlier this year the Global Mercy welcomed new patients onboard in Senegal for the very first time, and opened for training for local healthcare professionals.

Together we are building an exciting legacy of healthcare in this part of Africa.

While docked in Senegal, we are excited to serve in a new way - by welcoming patients from The Gambia.

So, what does the future hold for us?

In a few months the Global Mercy will embark on a medical service in Sierra Leone. I promise to share news and stories of new patients whose lives will be impacted by your future generosity and kindness.

The Africa Mercy will also re-start its field service soon after a period of refit and maintenance in Durban, South Africa. Our maintenance crew have been busy fitting new technology on this ship to significantly extend its life and service.

With two fully functional hospital ships, a dynamic community of volunteers and caring supporters like you, we are poised and ready to offer more hope and healing to thousands of new patients.

As you read this edition of Onboard magazine, I hope that the stories of transformation and the impact you have made possible will continue to fuel your passion for this vital cause.

You help our patients write new, hope-filled stories of their lives.

Joanne Balaam Chief Executive Officer

So, thank you once again for supporting Mercy Ships.

Daouda had not started school yet when a tiny node emerged in his upper jaw. Over the years, this painful tumour grew so large that it was hard for him to talk and eat. With his son struggling to eat, Hamady suffered too. “I would cry when I looked at my child. I became unable to eat. It was not right that I could eat well, but my child could not.”

You gave Daouda a second chance at life

For years, Daouda hid at home, leaving only when seeking treatment with his father. He even stopped going to school in 2019 although he was a top student with a bright future ahead of him.

As Hamady was running out of options, he heard that the Africa Mercy hospital ship would be offering free surgeries in Senegal. He knew that bringing his son to the ship would be a challenge, particularly as it meant leaving during the rainy season, a crucial time for his farm.

However, encouraged by pictures of successful surgeries on Mercy Ships’ Facebook page, Hamady dropped everything and brought Daouda to our hospital ship.

“There isn’t a single hospital I haven’t been to, to try to get this treatment,” said Hamady, Daouda’s father, after his 13-year-old son finally received surgery for a facial tumour.

Receiving the long-awaited surgery

People in their village ridiculed Hamady for his repeated failure to get treatment for his son. Even before leaving for Mercy Ships, some people told him, “Don’t go. Nobody can cure this. They won’t be able to cure this either.”

But Hamady did not listen to them. He persisted in hoping that his son somehow would be healed.

And, thanks to his persistence and the generosity of supporters like you, Daouda received free, lifechanging surgery onboard our hospital ship.

Between the tumour removal, grafts, and facial reconstruction, our hospital ship director Keren Fuhrmeister anticipated a “long and complicated surgery,” but Daouda emerged from the operating room in “half the time expected and miraculously didn’t need extensive facial reconstruction.”

Although Hamady was finally eating and sleeping well again, he still feared the worst for his son. So, when one of the nurses said to him, “Come see your child.” Hamady asked in disbelief, “Is it over for him? Can he speak? He has a mouth?”

Dr Keren, who saw the reunion between father and son, said: “He sat by his son and held his hand. Waiting for Daouda to wake up, Hamady just sat there with pure relief. I don’t think I’ll ever forget the look on Hamady’s face.”

A second chance at life for Daouda

Before leaving the ship Daouda thanked our volunteer doctors and nurses who operated on him. He told them that he was now looking forward to going back to school.

The road to healing was a winding one for Daouda. But now, thanks to your kindness, the determination of his father and the expertise of our volunteers, Daouda can step into a better future.

This is what Dr Mark Shrime, the International Chief Medical Officer for Mercy Ships who operated on Daouda, said: “Every hospital told Hamady they couldn’t do this operation. They told him to go to Morocco or Mali or to Guinea-Bissau. He spent 4 million CFA [$6500 USD] just to be told ‘no’ dozens and dozens of times.”

But, thanks to the medical technologies available in our floating hospitals, the expertise of our volunteers and the generous hearts of friends like you – more patients like Daouda who are told ‘no’ many times can now have a second chance at life. n

Give more patients like Daouda a second chance at life today by donating at: mercyships.org.uk/hope

Or scan the QR code.

Daouda at home with his father Hamady, after surgery.

Daouda thanks the volunteer doctors and nurses.

Daouda heading to theatre for his surgery.

Lasting impact in action

Meet Rachel Buckingham:

The volunteer surgeon who performed the first surgery onboard the Global Mercy.

Around 100 years ago, Rachel Buckingham’s grandmother became a doctor at a time when some universities in the UK still barred women from qualifying as physicians. Little did Dr Muriel Griffiths from Cardiff, Wales, know that she would inspire her descendants as she headed off to India to treat patients with leprosy in the 1920s.

Today, Dr Griffiths’ granddaughter Rachel is a lead orthopaedic surgeon volunteering with Mercy Ships. And, on Monday 6th March 2023 Rachel performed the first surgery onboard our new hospital ship docked in Senegal, West Africa.

“Coming out here you notice some stark differences. The lack of surgical care is heartbreaking. We are treating children with such severe deformities because they have not had access to surgery earlier in life.”

In sub-Saharan Africa, 9 out of 10 people have no access to safe surgery. This dire need is what keeps surgeons like Rachel coming back, as well as the opportunity to train local healthcare workers like Mohamed Sabounji who is on the path to becoming Senegal’s first paediatric orthopaedic surgeon.

Just as her grandmother did, Rachel’s determination, compassion and medical expertise is impacting the lives of many patients facing urgent need. n

Your support brings tools and training to national medics, making a long-lasting impact.

Image: Dr Buckingham and Dr Sabounji perform surgery onboard the Global Mercy

Read more about Rachel’s patient Amadou, the first patient to receive treatment onboard the Global Mercy, on page 11.

Image:

Meet Dr Mohamed Sabounji:

Senegal’s first paediatric orthopaedic surgeon.

In Senegal, children with lower-limb conditions have struggled to find local specialists who can help. In a country of 16 million, there are no paediatric orthopaedic surgeons.

Dr Mohamed Sabounji is aiming to be the first.

In 2019, he received training from Mercy Ships on the Ponseti method. It’s the gold standard in correcting clubfoot, a treatable condition in which the foot is turned in or under, making walking difficult.

And Dr Sabounji loved every minute of this training. Looking back at his time onboard the ship he now talks about this training as “a life-changing experience, both personally and professionally.”

Eager to put into practice what he had learnt, he partnered with Mercy Ships to open a free clubfoot clinic in Dakar. Over five months, he treated 18 young patients, correcting their twisted feet using cast changes and rehab exercises, until his patients could walk with ease.

When the Africa Mercy left Senegal in 2020, Dr Sabounji continued the clinic, treating over 50 cases a year.

In 2022, he resumed his mentorship with Dr Rachel Buckingham and others onboard the Africa Mercy.

He dreams of a future where children with a treatable condition will be able to access care quickly.

On his path to becoming Senegal’s first paediatric orthopaedic surgeon, he is already making his dream come true with the help of our Mercy Ships volunteers and supporters like you. n

Help bring more tools and training. Give now at: mercyships.org.uk/hope

Or scan the QR code.

Dr Sabounji with a clubfoot patient.

“I am so pleased to be part of this mentorship programme and be part of the whole treatment of clubfoot patients,” said Dr Sabounji. “Thank you for the ample opportunities to get the training I need to improve my competence and my confidence.”

The journey of the Global Mercy

The Global Mercy sailed quite the journey in 2022. At the beginning of last year the world’s largest civilian hospital ship underwent equipping projects in Antwerp, Belgium before welcoming hundreds of visitors in the Port of Rotterdam, the Netherlands.

Then in June 2022 the Global Mercy sailed to Senegal. During her first trip to Dakar over 245 healthcare professionals came onboard for eight medical capacity-building courses.

After a brief time in the Canary Islands the Global Mercy returned to Senegal in February 2023 to serve patients from Senegal and The Gambia.

All cisterns go: How plumbers are as much in demand as doctors

When plumber Chris Milward volunteered onboard the Africa Mercy he called himself a ‘brain surgeon’ –and it’s nearer to the truth than you might think.

Chris from Loughborough said: “Inside all the toilets, like in an aeroplane, there’s a vacuum flush and people call it a ‘brain’. I often say: ‘I’m a brain surgeon’ because I spent so much time fixing these ‘brains.’ When they look at my [maintenance] clothes they realise I am joking!

“There are 192 toilets and over 200 showers onboard with these ‘brains’ and when any of them breaks I strip them down and use them to keep all the toilets and showers working on the ship.”

The fact is Chris’ ‘surgery’ is every bit as vital as the surgeons onboard as they could not operate without plumbers like him. Just as our hospital ships can’t function without cooks, cleaners, electricians, teachers, finance staff, receptionists, and a host of other roles.

Learn what it’s like to volunteer onboard one of our ships mercyships.org.uk/volunteer or scan the QR code

Chris Milward, plumber, at work on the Africa Mercy Scan the QR code to watch a brand-new Global Mercy video

YouTuber Emma Cruises has raised more than £9,400 for Mercy Ships

Emma Le Teace from Sussex has promoted a very special replica of her friendly cat, Captain Hudson, to her international audience on Youtube. So far, more than 1,300 Captain Hudson toys have been ordered and Emma has given all the proceeds to Mercy Ships to transform lives. Now, she is planning on doing it again with another replica of Captain Hudson! Thank you so much Emma and all her followers. Your kindness and generosity will help people get the life-changing surgery they need.

How you can continue to play a vital role with Mercy Ships

The work of Mercy Ships is only made possible by the generosity of supporters and volunteers like you and of churches and community groups like yours. Here are different ways you can help provide life-changing surgeries and change the face of healthcare in the nations we serve:

Donate

Make a regular monthly donation to Mercy Ships.

Visit www.mercyships.org.uk/donate

Nominate us

Nominate Mercy Ships as Charity of the Year partner in your workplace, school, church, or organisation.

Come along

Attend or hold your own event or form a fundraising group in your local community, church, club, or workplace.

Email events@mercyships.org.uk

Remember us

Remember Mercy Ships in your will. Visit mercyships.org.uk/legacy

Get involved

Run, jog, walk, cycle, or swim for Mercy Ships by taking part in one of our challenge events.

Email getinvolved@mercyships.org.uk

Volunteer

Volunteer abroad or in the UK .

Contact us at volunteering@mercyships.org.uk

Come and meet

us!

Heading to a festival this summer? We’re going to many events up and down the country over the next few months, including The Big Church Festival, New Wine, and so much more!

We hope to see you there...

you

2022 in review: together we achieved so much

Last year we responded to unique challenges and opportunities for providing hope and healing in Africa.

7 Countries with Active Programmes

1,200+ Volunteers

200+ National Crew in Senegal

186 Local Partners

2,335 Total Surgical Patients

3,201 Total Surgeries

1,920 Total Dental Patients

2,545 Total Medical Capacity Building Participants

224,459 Total Medical Capacity Building Participant Hours

Thank you for being part of the Mercy Ships story.

To learn more about the impact you are making by supporting Mercy Ships read our annual impact report for 2022. Scan the QR code or go to: mercyships.org.uk/who-we-are/vision/

Celebrating Hope

2023 brings even more hope

Meet Amadou: the first patient onboard the Global Mercy

Four-year-old Amadou was the first patient to receive surgery onboard the Global Mercy last March. Born with one windswept leg and one bowed leg, even sitting for a meal was painful for him.

Amadou was operated on by Rachel Buckingham and Andrew Wainright – both volunteer surgeons from the UK working for Oxford University Trust. n

Image: Amadou and his caregiver Mariatou meet the doctor before surgery