Fordingbridge Rotary members were treated to a talk by fellow Rotarian, Peter Montgomery from Weighton Wold, via Zoom, on January 12.
Peter has been involved in the concept of “Mercy Ships” since 2011, with his wife, a volunteer nurse on one of them.
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“Mercy Ships” are two hospital ships equipped to undertake a multitude of surgeries, including removing tumours, cleft palates, cataracts, and various forms of orthopaedics. “Mercy Ships” founder, Don Stephens, realised that more than 50% of the world’s population lives within 100 miles of a major sea port, and that a hospital ship could therefore deliver health care very efficiently to a large number of people. Both are old Norwegian ferries fully fitted-out as hospital ships, with a multitude of operating theatres. No-one gets paid except the captain, $1 per annum, for legal reasons.
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Since “Mercy Ships” started, 56 third world countries have been visited, and literally, millions of patients have been helped.
Since the organisation recently purchased its second ship “Global Mercy” – the first is named “Africa Mercy” – it needs more people and more money.
One of the attached photos depicts both ships, the original, and their newer ship