2014 Annual Review

Hope and Healing
Mercy Ships UK 2014 Annual Review
Message from the Chairman
half of 2014, the Africa Mercy’s dedicated crew
served the people of Congo. The deployment
of our hospital ship to Guinea for the second
part of the year was affected by the Ebola
outbreak. We investigated several alternative
locations to ensure the safety and security of
our crew and patients, and the Africa Mercy
set sail to Madagascar. Madagascar is the
world’s fourth-largest island nation and ranks
in the lowest development tier in the UNDP
Human Development Index.
We are delighted to give you an overview of
some of the services Mercy Ships delivered in
Congo and Madagascar during 2014. Thanks
to all of our generous supporters in the UK,
more than £6.4 million was raised towards our
life-changing and life-saving work. In the first
When we arrived in Madagascar, the floating
hospital and its crew received a warm and
enthusiastic welcome. On the opening day at
the screening centre, over 2,000 patients and
caregivers stood in line waiting to be seen by
our specialist medical teams.
During 2014, which included the second half
of the field service in the Congo, and the first
two months of the field service in Madagascar,
our team performed a total of 1,778 surgeries,
12,597 dental procedures, 6,259 eye
evaluations, and 2,555 medical consultations.
On behalf of the Mercy Ships UK Board of
Trustees, and our selfless staff and crew who
dedicate their skills and talents to serving with
Mercy Ships, I thank you for your support and
commitment in bringing hope and healing to
the poor.
Henry Clarke
Chairman, Mercy Ships UK
2014 Programmes
2014 Field Service at a Glance
Featured Programmes in Congo and Madagascar
Mercy Vision
(Eye Care)
Outlook of Hope
(Maxillofacial, Reconstructive & General Surgeries )
The Orthopaedic Project
Mercy Smiles
(Oral Care)
Hope Reborn
(VVF Reduction & Training)
Food for Life
(Agricultural Training)
Palliative Care
12,597
Dental Procedures
1,778
Life-Changing Surgeries
416
Non-Healthcare
Professionals Trained
52
Trained in Nutritional
Agriculture
2,555
Medical Consultations
15,453
Direct Beneficiaries
728
Healthcare Professionals
Trained
H.O.P.E Centre
CONGO
Building Medical Capacity Through Education
1,034 Individuals from over 50 Nations,
volunteered, serving over 669,793 hours
MADAGASCAR
Mercy Vision
Project Results
Goal
To improve the quality of life for
patients suffering from cataracts,
pterygium and other eye problems
through life-enhancing surgeries,
while building the capacity of local
eye care systems
Eye Care Programme
The Mercy Vision programme addressed
surgical and medical eye needs of the people
in the Republic of Congo and Madagascar.
The primary emphasis of surgical intervention
was on reduction of blindness as a result of
cataracts. A special “Celebration of Sight,”
held every two to four weeks, highlighted the
triumphs of each patient. Non-surgical eye
care focused on allergy, infection, injury and
pain. Sunglasses were distributed to protect
sensitive eyes after operations, and reading
glasses were supplied to visually impaired
patients.
A Story of Hope
From the moment they met on the Africa
Mercy’s dock in Pointe Noire, in the Republic
of Congo, Dreige and Eddy, both 14 years
old, were inseparable. Can you imagine
boyhood without football matches or trees
to climb? The two boys were robbed of these
simple delights due to preventable blindness
caused by cataracts. But, after a lifetime of
blindness, it took only 20 minutes for each
boy to have his sight restored by the skilled
hands of volunteer surgeons. The moment
the bandages were removed, the two friends
saw the world for the first time. A few weeks
later, they sat in the shade of a tree and
talked about the birds in the sky and all the
other things they could now see. Then, they
grabbed a ball and began to play football.
Soon, children from the neighbourhood
joined in, and a full-scale match ensued.
6,259 eye patients
evaluated / consultations
759 eye surgeries (e.g.
cataracts)
1,464 sunglasses distributed
1,574 reading glasses provided
62 prescription glasses
distributed
12 local staff mentored in eye
care
10 visual care surgeons and
nurses trained
2 buildings renovated for eye
care use
Outlook of Hope
Project Results
Reconstructive Surgery Programme
In the Republic of Congo and Madagascar,
Mercy Ships worked in partnerships with the
Ministry of Health, local physicians, and other
NGOs, to provide surgeries to transform and
save lives. In on board operating theatres,
highly skilled volunteer surgeons performed
free maxillofacial / reconstructive operations,
plastic surgeries, general surgeries, and other
specialised surgeries.
Goal
To improve the quality of life for
patients suffering from the effects
of neglected trauma and disease
by providing life-saving and lifeenhancing surgeries, and by
building local capacity
A Story of Hope
A tennis ball-sized cyst had been slowly
growing on Zakael’s chest since birth. His
family couldn’t afford the costly surgery,
and with each passing year, the cyst grew,
and hope faded a little more. Then Zakael’s
father heard that Mercy Ships was bringing
its hospital ship to Madagascar. It contained
state-of-the-art medical equipment,
specialised surgeons, and other healthcare
professionals. Friends warned him that “the
foreigners would harm Zakael” and “they
would never be seen or heard from again.”
But he ignored the warnings and sold a goose
and a chicken to pay for the two-day journey
to the ship. It was a great investment and
purchased a new life for Zakael. After his free
surgery, a grinning Zakael and his delighted
father, headed home. The boy’s life had been
completely transformed in only one week.
Zakael proudly wears the surgical scar just
above his left collarbone. It is a symbol of
where he has been and where he is going.
1,153 plastic reconstructive
surgeries
347 general surgeries (e.g.
hernias and goiters)
271 maxillofacial surgeries
155 cleft lip and palate
surgeries
1 surgeon mentored in
maxillofacial surgery
The Orthopaedic Project
Project Results
Goal
To improve the quality of life
for patients suffering from
orthopaedic deformities and
neglected trauma through
life-enhancing surgeries and
physiotherapy
Orthopaedic Surgery Programme
Working in partnership with the Ministry of
Health, local and international NGOs, and
local medical providers, The Orthopaedic
Project helped to relieve the burden of
orthopaedic diseases and afflictions for
children with little or no alternative hope.
Surgical interventions focused on neglected or
mismanaged orthopaedic trauma, childhood
musculoskeletal conditions like club feet,
and some joint disease. Due to the time
constraints of the ship’s schedule, the focus
was on paediatrics, because the malleability
of children’s bones makes recovery much
quicker.
A Story of Hope
Like most three-year-old boys, Romino loves
to play in the dirt, and kick footballs. But
those things were difficult because of his
bowed legs. His parents knew they could never
afford the treatment their son so desperately
needed. Then they heard that Mercy Ships
was coming to Madagascar, and they dared to
hope. Little Romino was an attention-grabber
on the first day of patient screening and he
didn’t let his bowed legs slow him down. A free
life-changing surgery straightened the little
boy’s legs. When his casts were removed, the
physiotherapists found rocks, sand, sticks, and
a few other unexpected items. Now Romino is
running, jumping, playing football, and even
climbing trees. His dad said, “My son has
straight legs again . . . He will have a chance to
be just like the other kids. Thank you!”
55 orthopaedic surgeries
18 patients treated for clubfoot
1 surgeon mentored in
orthopaedic practices
Mercy Smiles
Project Results
Goal
To reduce the incidence of dental
disease by providing dental
education and treatments such
as restorations, extractions,
and cleaning, and to build local
capacity
Oral Care Programme
The projects in the Republic of Congo
and Madagascar addressed dental needs
and provided preventative and restorative
treatment for men, women and children,
who would otherwise not receive dental
care. The dental team provided basic oral
health education to their clients at the
dental clinics, as well as students in primary
schools. Local workers (day-crew) served
alongside the dental team, assisting with
language translation and other tasks. They
learned skills and technical competencies,
helping to increase the in-country
knowledge base of oral healthcare.
A Story of Hope
At the Mercy Ships dental clinic, the dental
education team provided basic dental
hygiene education to waiting clients,
including children. Mercy Ships Patient Life
Coach, Comfort Yeboah gave dental hygiene
instruction, accompanied by one of the local
day workers. She explained the importance of
having healthy teeth, how bacteria can cause
tooth decay, and how good dental care can
improve overall health. Dental education team
members also used animal hand puppets with
big teeth to illustrate the message that teeth
must be cared for correctly at least twice a
day. Many of the people who attended the
clinic didn’t use toothbrushes, and some had
never even seen one, but they were thrilled to
receive their very own toothbrush from Mercy
Ships.
12,597 dental procedures
5,088 people educated in oral
health
11 local volunteers trained in
dental assistance / dental
hygiene
2 buildings renovated for use
as a dental clinic
Hope Reborn
Project Results
Goal
To improve the quality of life for
patients suffering from obstetric
fistula through life-enhancing
surgeries, and to build capacity
by offering training to healthcare
professionals
VVF Reduction & Training Programme
Obstetric fistulas are caused by unrelieved,
obstructed labour in which the child is usually
stillborn. As a result of this childbirth injury,
the woman becomes incontinent. Mercy Ships
provided reconstructive surgeries, restoring
the lives of women, who are often ostracised
by their families and communities, and
provided each woman with a new, traditional
African dress to help her celebrate her
recovery and newly restored life. Training was
provided to African medical staff to increase
regional resources for this condition.
A Story of Hope
Since the day she went into labour with
her first child, Gisele’s life was shaped by
“shoulds”. She should have delivered normally.
When she did not, she should have had
emergency obstetric care. She should have
become a mum. Due to the trauma of the
obstructed labour, she developed a condition
called obstetric fistula. For 20 years, Gisele
lived with a steady stream of urine trickling
down her legs. Her husband abandoned her,
saying, “With you, I am wasting my time.” It
was not until Gisele found herself sitting on a
Mercy Ships hospital bed waiting for surgery
that she allowed herself to hope. When it
comes time to bid farewell to healed fistula
patients, the hospital throws a going-away
party called a Dress Ceremony. Each patient
is presented with a new dress. After the
celebration, Gisele walked down the dock. No
longer a victim of “shoulds”, she held her head
high and took her first steps back into society.
76 vesico-vaginal fistula
surgeries
16 midwives and obstetricians
trained
1 surgeon mentored in
obstetric practices
Food for Life
Project Results
Agricultural Training Programme
Good nutrition is essential to good health. The
Mercy Ships Nutritional Agriculture Course
trained and mentored agriculturalists from
local, non-governmental organisations. The
training consisted of two main components:
a 19-to-21- week course followed by followup assistance as the participants returned
to their respective NGO sites to train others.
As the training spreads, food supplies are
increased, diets are improved, and people are
healthier.
Goal
To improve food security in
the Republic of Congo and in
Madagascar by increasing the
farming capacity of partner NGOs
A Story of Hope
Gastel is an energetic, intelligent young
woman who stood out as one of the top
trainees in the Republic of Congo. She
was instrumental in making the Banana
Transformation Project a big success, and
she caught the attention of the Ministry of
Agriculture. Now she is a trainer for banana
transformation in all of The Republic of
Congo. She also had the opportunity to teach
the process in Italy. She is working toward
developing her own NGO in the Pointe Noire
district, where she will continue to teach
innovative Nutritional Agriculture concepts to
the people of her country.
25 Trainers trained in holistic
and organic farming methods
(Congo)
27 Trainers trained in holistic
and organic farming methods
(Madagascar)
Palliative Care
H.O.P.E. Centre
Project Results
Goal
To provide practical care and
support to individuals suffering
from terminal illness, as well as
providing training and support for
their caregivers
Palliative Care Programme
Many who seek medical help from
Mercy Ships are not eligible candidates
for surgery because of inoperable, and
often terminal, conditions. These people
are often rejected by their communities
because local cultures view these
conditions as a curse. The Palliative
Care Team reached out to patients and
their families, providing home visits to
encourage them, the provision of pain relief
medications, education for caregivers,
dressings for wound care, and counselling
for patients and caregivers.
Project Results
19 patients were regularly
visited
77 home visits provided
17 nurses trained in palliative
care
59 family members trained in
palliative care
Goal
To optimise the capacity of
hospital surgical outputs by
improving the movement of
patients in and out of the ward
Hospital Out-Patient Extension
The HOPE Centre is a non-medical facility
that supports the hospital on board the
Africa Mercy. Its aim is to free up precious
bed space in the hospital ward on the ship,
enabling more life-changing surgeries to
take place. Our patients and caregivers
usually come from the provinces and stay
with us after their surgery until no further
medical intervention is required. The HOPE
Centre provided housing for patients and
caregivers in a secure location near the
ship. After surgery, it offered a safe and
clean environment that promoted effective
recovery, while maintaining easy access
to the ship for follow-up care. It provided
a warm, welcoming atmosphere where
patients could feel relaxed and at home.
In the Republic of Congo,
renovated a school building at
the Caritas medical compound
for use as a safe, secure, and
hygienic location for patients
and caregivers
In Madagascar, renovated a
wing at Centre Hospitalier
Universitaire Toamasina
(CHUT) for use as our largest
ever HOPE Centre
Building Medical Capacity
Project Results
Goal
To impart knowledge, skills, and a
compassionate and professional
attitude to individuals in order
to affect transformational
development
Building Medical Capacity Programme
Millions of lives are lost each year because
they lack access to surgical care. Up to
56 million people are in need of surgery
in Africa alone. It has been estimated that
there is a shortage of 1 million healthcare
workers in Sub-Saharan Africa alone, and
in rural Africa there can be as few as one
fully trained surgeon per 2.5 million people.
Mercy Ships Medical Capacity-Building
Programmes fostered transformational
development within the healthcare
structure of the host nation. Healthcare
Education Projects were specifically
developed to impart knowledge and
skills, while modelling and encouraging
compassion and a professional work ethic.
These projects incorporated one-on-one
mentoring opportunities, internationally
recognised courses for groups, and
structured observation in the Africa Mercy
hospital.
178 trained in Anaesthetics
532 trained in Mental Illness and
Trauma
82 trained in Disease Prevention
and Infection Control
15 trained in Basic Surgical
Skills Care
31 trained in Sterile
Processing Techniques
53 trained in Newborn
Resuscitation
26 trained in Primary
Trauma Care
4 mentored in Anaesthetics
12 trained through the
Biomedical Technician 21-Week
Training Course
58 trained through Ponseti
Method Training Workshops
15 ward and operating theatre
nurses mentored
Income Expenditure Mercy Ships UK 2014 Income (Total: £6.4m)
Mercy Ships UK 2014 Expenditure (Total: £6.0m)
59% Grants
& Donations
75%
Grants to
Mercy Ships
Programmes
35 %
Legacies
19%
Costs of Generating
Voluntary Income
2%
Gifts in Kind
1%
Information
& Education
4%
Income from other
Fundraising Activities
3%
Costs of other
Fundraising
Activities
2%
Governance Costs
Mercy
Ships UK Board
UK Board of Trustees
Henry Clarke (Chairman) 1
Dr Keith Thomson 2
Andrew Billington 3
Ann Gloag 4
Anthony Dunnett 5
Alan Edwards 6
Ruth Guy 7
Terry Harrison 8
Ron Goode 9
Peter Schulze 10
Paul Ramsbottom 11
Executive Director Mercy Ships UK
Judy Polkinhorn 12
11
5
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
11
12
UK Patrons
The Rt. Hon. Sir John Major, KG CH
Dame Norma Major DBE
9
10
Fundraising
& Gifts in Kind
Wonderful support during 2014 was
received from kind individuals, companies,
schools, Churches, Trusts, clubs, groups
and our dedicated network of speakers – all
contributing towards the £6.4 million raised
by Mercy Ships UK last year. Support for our
floating hospital has remained strong and
we are as ever, truly grateful to all who have
helped us financially, and through raising
awareness across the country. There are so
many people to thank, it would be impossible
to mention them all; and we are grateful to
each and every one of our supporters. We
continue to make a huge difference to those
in desperate need in Africa, and we can only
achieve so much through your support.
Individual Giving
Monthly mailings to existing supporters, plus
6,000 newly recruited donors, raised over £1.1
million in 2014. In November and December
alone generous supporters donated over
£413,000. Regular gifts by standing order
and direct debit were in excess of £600,000.
Christmas cards, Northwood Missionary
Auctions, Annual Prize Draw, Gifts of Hope,
all proved popular with supporters. Over
£30,000 was donated by generous supporters
via our monthly e-news - an area where we
hope to see growth each year. Legacy income
proved extremely significant in 2014, with an
astounding £2.2 million coming from those
generous enough to remember Mercy Ships
in their Will. Legacies ensure the future of our
services for years to come.
Corporate
Attracting long term corporate partnerships
continued to be our focus, and Mercy Ships
UK received generous support from a wide
range of large and small, national and local
companies in 2014. Several new partnerships
were formed during the year, and we look
forward to continuing to work with all our
corporate partners in 2015 and beyond;
whilst also presenting Mercy Ships UK as a
unique and inspiring Charity of the Year to
many prospective new corporate partners.
The year was packed with activity including
the Carol Services in Southwark and Sheffield
Cathedrals in December; and the annual
Mercy Ships Africa Ball, attracting corporate
sponsorship and fantastic attendance and
support. We are extremely grateful to those
who donated superb auction prizes adding to
the great atmosphere in the Grand Ballroom
at the Landmark Hotel in June. 2014 also
saw many individuals cycling, running and
walking individually and in corporate teams
for Mercy Ships, by taking part in a variety
of different challenges including the Virgin
London Marathon, London to Brighton Bike
Ride, Silverstone Half Marathon and Great
North Run.
Trusts & Foundations
During 2014 Mercy Ships UK secured support
from 135 Trusts and Foundations worth over
£170,000. This included larger grants from
Major Trusts, as well as more than 50 Trusts
supporting our work with gifts of between
£1,000 and £10,000, with Scottish Trusts
continuing to be particularly generous. We
are also grateful to the many smaller Trusts
(often family concerns) who have once again
provided wonderful support. While most of
our Trust income derives from established
supporters, this year also secured grants
from Trusts new to Mercy Ships, newly
registered Trusts and Trusts based in the
Channel Islands. Unlike other charities, we
are fortunate that the bulk of Trust giving is
unrestricted and not project specific. Trusts
have confidence in Mercy Ships and rely on
us to determine where their support is best
used. We extend our heartfelt thanks to all
Trusts and Foundations who made it possible
for Mercy Ships to provide specialist care,
along with training and construction projects,
over the past twelve months. Together we have
created a lasting legacy of hope and healing.
Community
With nearly 200 speakers giving talks for
Mercy Ships in 2014, we were able to show our
work to thousands of people at hundreds of
meetings, with many generous gifts made by
groups and individuals moved to compassion
and action.
Fundraising events in local communities
included occasions such as coffee mornings,
open gardens, car boot sales, and much more!
Some turned personal celebrations into giving
for Mercy Ships, with wedding, anniversary or
milestone birthday gifts. There were Easter
Breakfasts countrywide, and Harvest Festival
collections – we’d like to grow these as annual
events across the country!
We are grateful to our speakers, many of
whom are also returning volunteers, for their
wholehearted and reliable support, both in
giving talks and in representing Mercy Ships
at exhibitions, events, school fairs, Sunday
services, at hospitals and workplaces.
Mercy Ships participated at various
exhibitions, including several Christian
Resources Exhibitions. We were pleased to join
many different Rotary District Conferences,
as well as the annual conference for Rotary in
Britain and Ireland; Inner Wheel; and Rotary
Foundation. These are great opportunities to
share the work, provide resources for officers,
and to encourage support. We welcome
invitations to Rotary House of Friendship or
Showcase, to show the life transforming work
documented in this Review, and can provide
talks for clubs. Mercy Ships UK specialist
medical and nursing representatives helped
at many different international and national
medical conventions, with space generously
donated.
Significant funds were raised in 2014 for the
Africa Mercy through School fun charity days
and events. Shades Awareness Day for schools
inspired many children and staff to join Mercy
Fundraising
& Gifts in Kind
How
to Help
Our work is only made possible by the generosity of
our supporters and volunteers. Why not:
Ships and celebrate the gift of sight, by
holding Dare2Wear events across the country.
It was fun to put on their trendy, glamorous,
wacky shades and sunglasses for the day in
aid of Mercy Ships.
A number of brave and kind-hearted
supporters participated in and raised funds
for us through a wide variety of challenges
including the Edinburgh Marathon,
Bournemouth Marathon, London to Brighton
Bike Ride, Santa Run and many other events.
We are extremely grateful to each and every
individual who trained hard, and all the teams
that pulled together to raise funds for our
floating hospital in this way.
Thanks to the help of our UK Speakers
and Fundraising Volunteers, we raised over
£350,000 in 2014. Please consider joining
the Mercy Ships UK Speaker’s Network to
recruit volunteers, raise awareness and funds,
towards our specialist care. We look forward to
hearing from you.
Procurement (Gifts in Kind)
Imagine the diverse requirements for patient
care in any hospital; then add to this the
needs of volunteer crew, and then add the
complication of maintaining an ocean-going
vessel. It certainly is a stimulating challenge
for the procurement team to provide exactly
what is wanted, on time, and donated where
possible. In order to achieve our goals,
we rely heavily on the support of donors,
from corporations, small manufacturers,
churches, schools, Inner Wheel, Rotary and
private individuals. Gifts can be as varied
as medications, marine spares, laboratory
and galley equipment. In 2014, Gifts in Kind
generated £152,344 in monetary value to
support the diverse needs of Mercy Ships.
Hold an event or raise funds in your local
community, workplace, school or club
Attend a Mercy Ships event
Introduce us to a company who may wish to
support Mercy Ships in some way
Remember Mercy Ships in your Will
Volunteer on the Africa Mercy
Nominate us for a Charity of the Year adoption
Run, jog, walk, cycle or swim for Mercy Ships
by taking part in one of many Challenge Events
through the year
Make a regular donation
Join the Speaker Network and attend one of our
Information Days
Please call or email the fundraising
department at the Stevenage office.
Phone: 01438 727800
Email: [email protected]
Website: www.mercyships.org.uk
Imagine...
A ship with 5 operating theatres and state-of-the-art medical
facilities, crewed by extraordinary volunteer surgeons, nurses,
water engineers and other specialists
Now Imagine...
Their services offered free of charge to help those in greatest need.
Mercy Ships operates the world’s largest charity hospital ship
delivering free health care to the poorest people.
Mercy Ships UK
The Lighthouse
12 Meadway Court
Stevenage SG1 2EF
Phone: 01438 727800
Email: [email protected]
Web: www.mercyships.org.uk
/mercyshipsuk
@mercyshipsuk
Registered Charity No. 1053055 (England & Wales). A Registered Charity in Scotland No. SC039743.
Company No. 3147724 (England & Wales).