Global Mercy Ship to dock in Ghana for ten-months
A delegation from Global Mercy Ship led by its Vice President – International Programs, Michelle Bullington on Wednesday paid a courtesy call on Vice President Mahamudu Bawumia.
The team is visiting Ghana in preparation for the arrival of the new Global Mercy Ship, a world-class hospital ship that is expected to dock for about 8-10 months in Ghana.
The Global Mercy Ship will, subject to agreement, provide free medical and surgical services in the areas of general surgery, reconstructive plastics surgery, opthalmic surgery women’s health surgery, maxillofacial & ENT surgery and paediatric orthopaedic surgery, among others.
This is expected to reduce the surgical backlog, offer opportunity to some of the most vulnerable people in society who require access to surgical services in remote villages, and provide support to the country’s ongoing patient care. The plastic surgeries will also benefit patients in the leprosarium with post-leprosy contracture who meet the criteria for surgery.
The program will also enhance educational training capacities in some medical and surgical specialities and provide local employment opportunities.
A 250-bed rehabilitative centre will be provided by the programme to house patients who receive surgical and medical services.
This centre will be donated to Ghana at the end of the programme. About 17 million people die globally from lack of surgical care. Research further indicates that more people die from lack of surgical care than malaria, tuberculosis, and HIV combined.
