MSC Group, MSC Foundation and Mercy Ships International have entered into an agreement to construct a brand-new hospital ship. The ship will provide free surgical services and training to thousands of people in Africa annually.
Mercy Ships was founded in 1978 and has since provided more than 117,000 surgical procedures. The specialized surgeries include maxillofacial reconstructions, contracture release for severe burns, correction for orthopedic problems in children, cleft lip and palate repair, ophthalmology, and dental services. The non-governmental organization also provides surgical education, training and advocacy programs to local professionals in their designated field.
Mercy Ships’ new hospital ship will be designed similarly to Global Mercy. The new ship will focus on designated training spaces allowing an increased ability to collaborate with host nations in training and advocacy. The need for surgical care and education in sub-Saharan Africa is very apparent as evidenced in a recent speech by Vice President Mohamed Juldeh Jalloh of Sierra Leone. In that speech at the West African College of Surgeons (WACS) conference in Freetown, he stated that 91% of the country’s surgical needs still remain unmet.
Captain Gianluigi Aponte, founder of the MSC Group, said, “I spent part of my childhood and early years in the shipping industry in the Horn of Africa, it is a region close to my heart. I saw firsthand the challenges faced by many local communities there and this shaped my conviction that improving the availability of healthcare would bring real and lasting impact for them. It has been extremely gratifying to work with Don and provide this crucial support through his unique organization Mercy Ships, our partnership has reaped extraordinary results already and now we are on the verge of expanding their fleet to increase this support. I truly look forward to seeing this new ship set sail to help more communities across Africa.”
The new ship will be able to accommodate 600 crew members and guests. The hospital will span two decks, feature six operating rooms, a fully equipped laboratory, and state-of-the-art training spaces. Partnering since 2011, MSC and Mercy Ships have worked together to transport large quantities of essential supplies to support surgical procedures and training programs. MSC has also worked with Mercy Ships in the development of the new ship to provide an efficient space for every need. This partnership allows the charitable organization to strengthen the local surgical systems while in port which is about 10 months.
Don Stephens, founder of Mercy Ships, confirming Mercy Ships’ vision for serving African nations with safe surgical care and education said, “The investment of many around the world towards a fleet of hospital ships will be enhanced by the future of our new purpose-built vessel. The mission of Mercy Ships to bring Hope and Healing is only possible by the generosity of our partners, volunteer crew, and the provision of God. Today, I am grateful to MSC for their support.”
MSC Group President and Member of the MSC Foundation Board, Diego Aponte called the ship another milestone in the company’s vision to support the continent of Africa to become truly prosperous and sustainable.