The Africa Mercy, the world’s largest charity hospital ship with a volunteer crew of over 300, is soon expected to enter dry dock at the Astican shipyard in Las Palmas, for her first revision since entering active service in June 2007. The ship with six operating theatres onboard has just completed a successful six-month campaign bringing hope and healing to war torn Liberia, West Africa.

From the 11th to the 13th of January 2008, this unique ship will be open for the general public to enjoy guided tours and learn about the health and lives of West Africans coming out of years of conflict where Mercy Ship serves. For the past three years, Mercy Ships has offered specialised surgeries, developmental assistance, and educational programmes benefiting thousands of individuals and many communities in Liberia as the nation struggles to stabilize after 14 years of civil war which destroyed the nation’s infrastructure.

Thanks to donors and corporate gifts in kind for the Mercy Ships, this year they provided:

- 1,108 Liberians with free eye surgeries

- 542 patients with life-changing maxillofacial, plastic or general surgeries

- 102 women with free surgery to repair childbirth injury

- Training for nurses and surgeons in VVF and other surgical techniques

- 75 patients including children with club feet received free orthopaedic surgeries

With only a handful of dentists serving the entire nation, the Mercy Ships dental professionals held clinic in a local facility off ship where they were able to treat more then 6,000 patients with nearly as many receiving oral health lessons as they waited. It is estimated by the UN that Liberia has only around 30 doctors and four functioning hospitals for the country’s 3 million people, excluding NGO personnel.

The purpose-built hospital onboard the 152 metre 16,572 ton Africa Mercy includes six state of the art operating rooms, intensive care and several hospital wards with bed space for up to 78 patients. Volunteer professionals from more than 30 nations serve onboard. Doctors, dentists, nurses, community developers, teachers, cooks, seamen, engineers, and many others donate their time and skills to the effort. Mercy Ships has performed more than 1.7 million services, with a value of 457 million euros and directly benefited over 1.9 million

people.

For more information see www.mercyships.org