20th August, 2014
The work of Christian medical charity Mercy Ships is being significantly impact by the outbreak of the Ebola virus in West Africa with a trip to Guinea cancelled and another to Benin delayed.
In April, Mercy Ships cancelled a hospital ship’s planned deployment to Guinea where the Ebola outbreak began last December. That ship, currently docked in the Canary Islands following annual maintenance, was due to sail for the port of Cotonou in Benin last week to start to a 10 month stint there. But the organisation said it had delayed the ship leaving "pending further assessment due to the virulence of the outbreak in neighbouring Nigeria".
Don Stephens, president and founder of Mercy Ships, said the 16,500 tonne ship was unequipped to treat viral epidemics.
"Multi-bed wards and limited isolation facilities, close proximity to crew accommodation and dining for families and children are but a few restraints," he said in a statement issued on Monday. He while "Africa is and remains our priority", the safety of the 400 person crew, representing 40 nations, "drives every decision".
"We request prayer as we consider all options to manage the risk, including deployment to other unaffected nations," he said.
The death toll from the Ebola outbreak has now topped 1,200, according to the latest information from the World Health Organization with more than 2,200 cases reported. Among the affected nations are Guinea, Liberia, Nigeria and Sierra Leone.
– DAVID ADAMS
