South African doctors and partners visit Africa Mercy
Cape Town, South Africa. April, 2010 : Twelve people including several South African doctors and partners in the work of the hospital ship charity recently visited the Africa Mercy, docked in the port of Lome, Togo. “Being able to experience this extraordinary culture of selfless giving and caring is a life changing experience,” explains Elsie Naidoo, CSI Manager of the Metropolitan Health Group. According to her helping the poor “is a true inspiration for the entire world.” Naidoo was joined by colleagues, Blaise Makgopa and Susan Lin. Makgopa, who is the Technical Specialist for the medical scheme administration provider, says the three-day trip “was humbling and brought devotion to mercies to a whole new light.”
Organised by the Southern Africa office of Mercy Ships, the visit was an opportunity for the charity’s partners to experience the work of Mercy Ships firsthand. This included observing eye and maxillo-facial surgeries in some of the six onboard operating rooms, and touring the 78 bed hospital ward. They also held discussions with Mercy Ships Senior Vice President for Health Care Initiatives, Dr. Glenn Strauss, regarding the proposed 100 day Eastern Cape eye care program scheduled for later this year.
Also on the trip was Claire Hugo, CSI Practitioner representing the Anglo American Chairman’s Fund, who said she appreciated the “emphasis on training local medical practitioners to ensure that the benefits of Mercy Ships work will extend until long after the ship has left the dock.” The Anglo American Chairman’s Fund and the Momentum Group recently donated towards Mercy Ships eye surgery training program. Since 2009, Mercy Ships has been training South African public sector surgeons in an effort to increase the rate of cataract surgeries in the Eastern Cape.
Others on the trip include the Eastern Cape Department of Health Deputy-Director General for Clinical Services, Dr. Nandi Diliza, and Dr. Mary Hlalele, general manager of the Fred Hollows Foundation in South Africa. Several South Africans, including surgeons, seamen and school teachers, serve as volunteers with Mercy Ships.
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