Four new 5L21/31 type MAN engines have replaced the former Frichs and B&W Alpha diesel generators and will further minimize vibration transmitted to the operating theatres making the surgeons' task more manageable. For an average of 10 months every year, volunteers onboard provide maxillo-facial, dental, eye, orthopaedic and Vesico-vaginal fistula (VVF) surgeries to the poor in West Africa, completely free of charge.
Mercy Ships senior vice president of international operations, Jim Paterson says, "We have been very happy with the cooperation received here in South Africa which has enabled us to complete this major project. We are looking forward to many years of faithful service from these new generator sets and associated systems." Mercy Ships expects the new generators to increase productivity by 32%, reduce CO2 emissions by 20% and reduce fuel running costs by more than R5 million per year.
South African Lourens Lessing gave up his custom design and manufacture of solid wood furniture business in George to be involved in the new engine control system project, where he helped "in tracking down a route through the ship from the bridge to the engine room, through which we channelled more than 7km of cable." Lessing, one of some 400 medical, engineering, deck, and other professionals who volunteer to serve onboard the charity hospital ship, says he learnt "a lot of lessons" during the course of the project, adding that "patience was definitely a big one!"
Between February and December this year, the Africa Mercy plans to support the Sierra Leone health care system by providing more than 3000 direct surgical services to the poor as well as build capacity in the local healthcare community.
Mercy Ships uses hospital ships to deliver free, world-class health care services to those without access in the developing world. Founded in 1978 by Don and Deyon Stephens, Mercy Ships has worked in more than 70 countries providing services valued at more than US$808 million (about R5.8 billion), impacting more than 2.5 million direct beneficiaries. Each year Mercy Ships has over 1200 volunteers from over 40 nations. Professionals including surgeons, dentists, nurses, health care trainers, teachers, cooks, seamen, engineers, and agriculturalists donate their time and skills to the effort. Mercy Ships seeks to become the face of love in action, bringing hope and healing to the poor. For more information go to www.mercyships.org.
