It will be the first time that Mercy Ships, founded more than 30 years ago, has worked with DR Congo.
Founder Don Stephens signed the protocol with DR Congo's Health Minister, Victor Makwenge Kaput, at Mercy Ships International Operations Centre in Texas. Mr Stephens said, "We are delighted to work with the Democratic Republic of the Congo."
"Several options are being explored through this partnership. Ruben Martin of Martin Marine in Kilgore has been most helpful in providing design expertise for a future hospital ship on the river. One option is collaborating to bring a floating hospital that could navigate 2,500 kilometres up the Congo River from the nation's capital Kinshasa. This method could serve 10 million people along the river. Other ideas were also discussed during a four-hour meeting," Stephens said.
DR Congo ranks second to last – 168 out of 169 – on the World Health Organisation's Human Development Index, an index used by Mercy Ships to assess areas of need for service by volunteers in West Africa.
The Health Minister said the country was in a developmental phase, coming out of a post-conflict era. "It needs dedicated partners to come alongside and help it rebuild its health care system. Mercy Ships unique experience and capabilities represent a strong potential resource. That is the reason for signing a protocol and discussing how we can collaborate in capacity-building and other ways of serving the people of the DRC. The delegation is very pleased with the outcome of our meetings, and we look forward to a long-term relationship with Mercy Ships," he said.
The Democratic Republic of Congo faces a humanitarian crisis, following a five-year conflict involving government forces supported by Angola, Namibia and Zimbabwe against rebels backed by Uganda and Rwanda. It is estimated that as many as three million people died between 1998 and 2003, as a direct result of fighting or because of disease and malnutrition. Current population is put at 67 million.
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 15 international support offices is based on the Queensland Sunshine Coast.
For more information, visit www.mercyships.org.au