She says there are many thousands of such women in Africa. "Women, who because of a cultural background of carrying heavy loads from a young age, marriage and childbirth while still young are more at risk of obstructed labour during childbirth. Without easy access to medical help, these women often lose their babies after prolonged labour and end up with a fistula causing permanent incontinence. Some women who come for surgery have lived with such conditions as outcasts for many years. To see the joy on the faces of women who are now 'dry' and able to return to live in their communities is indescribable."
As with all volunteers Margery was required to pay her own way to and from Togo and pay crew fees while onboard to help offset running costs of the ship. She worked additional shifts throughout the year to cover the costs, and says her hospital was helpful in giving additional community outreach leave to add to annual leave to make it all possible. This trip was better in one aspect than the last one to Benin. With 50 hours of travel time and delays between flights, she and her luggage arrived together, instead of parting company during transit last trip.
"The work being done my Mercy Ships volunteers is so important. It is not only medical. While free surgeries are provided in the onboard hospital with its six operating theatres to correct disability, deformity and blindness, volunteers from around the world are also out in the country providing a wide range of health care, educational, agricultural and community development programs. These are people in real need of help. Those who come for surgery are literally given their lives back. I really was excited to see that change in life given to women suffering from obstetric fistulas. It is the practice to give each new woman following surgery a colourful new outfit to signify her fresh start to life. There are some very joyful celebrations with singing and dancing before those women leave the ship."
"There are more than 450 volunteers onboard the Africa Mercy at any one time. Some come for a few weeks, others for a few months, while others are there full-time. I am unable to commit to long stretches of time in Africa because of home commitments. But I hope to continue returning to the ship on future assignments, and I can see myself continuing to volunteer for short-term periods," Margery concludes.
On the web:
' target='_blank'> www.mercyships.org.au
Mercy Ships is a global charity that has operated hospital ships in developing nations since 1978 providing free health care and community development services to the forgotten poor. Following the example of Jesus, Mercy Ships brings hope and healing to the poor. Working in partnership with local people, Mercy Ships empowers communities to help themselves. The result is a way out of poverty.
The emphasis is on the needs of the world's poorest nations in West Africa, where the world's largest charity hospital ship Africa Mercy, with a crew of more than 450 volunteer, provides the platform for services extending up to ten months at a time.
Mercy Ships works on land-based projects in Sierra Leone in partnership with other organisations, while teams also work in several nations of Central America and the Caribbean. Mercy Ships Australia, one of 14 international support offices is based on the Queensland Sunshine Coast.