CHARITY HOSPITAL SHIP RECEIVES VITAL MEDICAL EQUIPMENT
Mercy Ships, the international charity which provides free medical care and humanitarian aid to some of the world’s poorest people, received a generous donation of just under 300,000 medical gloves from Polyco, one of Europe’s leading glove companies.
Polyco has donated 256,000 Latex and 30,000 Nitrile Examination Gloves to be used on the Africa Mercy, Mercy Ships’ floating hospital which is currently treating patients in Sierra Leone. Latex and Nitrile Examination Gloves prevent contamination and are essential in ensuring hospital staff and patients protection.
The Africa Mercy has been converted from a Danish rail ferry to a state-of-the-art hospital ship, with six operating theatres, X-ray facilities and CT scanner, a pharmacy and a laboratory. There is capacity for 78 in-patients with four wards and a small intensive care unit as well as housing 450 volunteers. It is staffed by an international crew of dedicated volunteers from over 40 nations ranging from seamen, engineers, surgeons, doctors and nurses who give up their time to help save the lives of others.
Tricia Maher, Senior Area Sales Manager of Polyco said: “We are proud to donate to the charity Mercy Ships and hope that this donation will help it continue its good work in West Africa, providing help and healing to those less fortunate. The work of the volunteers is extremely humbling and really makes a difference to so many people’s lives. I am thrilled that we have been able to help in some way and support such a worthy cause.”
Judy Polkinhorn, Executive Director of Mercy Ships UK said: “Kind donations such as this one are vital in ensuring Mercy Ships can continue to help and provide care to who have little or no access to surgical and medical help. Without these donations Mercy Ships would simply cease to exist and we are extremely thankful to Polyco for its generosity.”
Over the last 30 years, Mercy Ships has worked in more than 70 countries providing services valued at £530million and impacting about 2.9million people.
The international charity has treated more than 520,000 people in village medical and dental clinics, performed more than 56,000 surgeries and completed more than 1,000 community development projects focusing on water and sanitation, education, infrastructure development and agriculture.
For more information or to make a donation please visit www.mercyships.org.uk or call 01438 727800.
