Mercy Ships and Premier
Mercy Ships and Premier Christian Radio are continually working together for healthcare in Africa following on from a year-long partnership that bridges radio, podcasts, magazines, social media and in-person conferences.
International reach
- The partnership came at a pivotal time for healthcare in Africa, with the need for safe, accessible surgery more critical than ever after COVID-19
- The Global Mercy a new, purpose-built hospital and medical training ship will double the impact of the charity’s life-changing work across the continent of Africa
- Premier’s national and international reach will help resource the life-saving work of Mercy Ships with giving, prayer, and by highlighting inspiring volunteer crew from all walks of life
A unique partnership
“Working with Premier was very fruitful, in return on investment more than meeting the target we set together. An experienced team, operating a professional multi-channel fundraising programme, we’re delighted to continue working with them.”
Source: Edited quote taken from Darren Richards Global Marketing and Fundraising Director Mercy Ships
Campaign details
- There are 300 doctors for 100,000 people in the UK, compared to 1 for 100,000 in Africa. So, in the aftermath of the Covid pandemic, the need for access to medical care and safe surgery across Africa is greater than ever. For the first time, progress towards the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals is stalling, and without intervention, the impact of the pandemic threatens to undo decades of good work.
- At this critical moment, Premier Christian Radio and Mercy Ships came together in a ‘Charity of the Year’ partnership, to bring this urgent need to the attention of Christians and churches across the UK. They share the belief that everyone deserves access to medical treatment, at a time when 9 out of 10 people living in sub-Saharan Africa still don’t have access to safe surgery.
- Mercy Ships follows the 2,000-year-old model of Jesus, bringing hope and healing. Mercy Ships delivers accessible, free surgery and vital medical care for those in unjust poverty and urgent need. The Africa Mercy ship is already working in Senegal. The volunteers onboard, many from UK churches, are bringing hope and healing to incredible people such as Aicha, a little girl who arrived with bowed legs, a condition caused by poverty. Thanks to a free surgery onboard their floating hospital, Aicha is now able to attend school and play with her friends, without fear, ridicule or pain.
The Global Mercy is the world’s first and largest purpose-built charity hospital ship and a floating medical school. She will join the Africa Mercy soon – doubling the impact of the charity’s life transforming work across the continent of Africa.
At the invitation of each host nation, skilled volunteers onboard each ship work alongside healthcare professionals to train and mentor local surgeons and nurses, leaving a lasting legacy of sustainable healthcare. To crew both ships, Mercy Ships offer opportunities for 2,600 volunteers from over 50 nations each year. Half of the roles are not medical at all, from audio-visual technicians to car mechanics, receptionists to paediatric nurses. There are 200 different volunteer options onboard to choose from.
Premier Christian Radio’s national and international reach through radio, podcasts, magazines and events, will help the life-saving work of Mercy Ships through giving, prayer, and by highlighting volunteer crew opportunities.
About Mercy Ships
Mercy Ships uses hospital ships to transform individuals, offering free world-class healthcare services and partnering with nations through capacity building and sustainable development.
Founded in 1978 by Don and Deyon Stephens, Mercy Ships has worked in more than 55 low-income nations, directly benefitting more than 2.8 million people. Our ships are crewed by volunteers from over 60 nations, with an average of over 2,600 volunteers each year. Professional volunteer roles include surgeons, anaesthetists, dentists, nurses, healthcare trainers, teachers, cooks, seafarers, engineers, and agriculturalists.
Doubling impact in Africa
The Global Mercy is the big sister of the Africa Mercy. Mercy Ships expects to be able to double the impact of its work with the new ship, through life-changing surgeries, education, and training local healthcare providers in Africa. When both ships are in full service, Mercy Ships hopes to perform more than 5,000 surgeries, deliver over 28,000 dental treatments, and train more than 2,800 medical professionals annually.
The Global Mercy is 174 meters long and 28.6 meters wide. It has 6 operating rooms, 200 beds, a laboratory, general outpatient clinics and eye and dental clinics. The total area of the hospital department is 7,000 square meters. The ship can accommodate 950 people when docked, including 641 crew members, who are made up of volunteers from all walks of life. In addition to the hospital, the ship contains the latest training facilities, through which Mercy Ships contributes to the sustainable development of local medical care in many countries.
To find out more, please email info@mercyships.org.uk or call 01438 727 800.
To read more about Aicha please visit this page.
