Deformities

Deformities in Developing Nations
For the poor in developing nations, accessing necessary medical and surgical care is extremely difficult due to their remote location, lack of medical facilities and financial constraints. Conditions that would be treated in the early stages in developed nations, grow to the point of being life threatening. The consequence for many is a lifetime of disability and rejection.

Cleft Lip and Palate
Cleft lip and/or palate is a condition easily repaired in the developed world, but cleftlip babies born in developing countries are often malnourished because they cannot feed properly. Children who do survive are often rejected because of their deformity.

Tumours
Disfiguring tumours often begin as small growths, but when left untreated, grow to the point of being life threatening as a person struggles to breathe or eat, and render their victims social outcasts. Congenital Orthopaedic Abnormalities Children in developing nations born with conditions such as clubfeet have little or no opportunity for corrective surgery.

Noma (Oral Disease)
Not seen in the Western world since concentration camps, noma, or cancrum oris, is an infectious disease destroying oro-facial tissues. Predominantly affecting children, the disease advances quickly, spreading to the nose, lips and cheeks. Though both preventable and treatable, thousands die from the condition each year. Those who survive are left with not only disfigurement, but also experience difficulty eating, breathing and swallowing.

Injuries & Trauma
Injuries from violence, accidents and the consequences of war create acute and neglected trauma not seen in developed nations. Often injuries are compounded from lack of adequate treatment and require specialised procedures to provide relief.

Statistics

• Cleft lip and palate is the number-one facial birth defect and the fourth most-common birth defect overall, affecting 1 in 700-1,000 live births (WHO).
• About 70-90% of noma cases are fatal in the absence of care. Africa remains the hardest-hit continent (WHO)

Transformational health care through Reconstructive Surgery Programmes

Bringing Hope and Healing
Mercy Ships aims to reduce the effects of neglected trauma, disease and congenital conditions by providing specialised surgical treatment. Mercy Ships uses hospital ships complemented by land-based programmes to deliver free specialised health care and community development services to the forgotten poor.

Reconstructive Surgery
Mercy Ships partners with the local medical community in each country to identify surgical candidates. In onboard operating theatres, highly skilled surgeons perform thousands of free maxillo-facial, orthopaedic and reconstructive operations, transforming faces and saving lives.

Recovery & Counselling
Patients recuperate under world-class care in the ship’s hospital ward, where they are also provided with opportunity for moral and spiritual support. Mercy Ships aims to provide a caring, holistic environment to help patient recovery.

Training & Prevention
Mercy Ships partners with local surgeons and nurses to provide training and educational opportunities in appropriate techniques. In addition, Mercy Ships contributes to the long-term eradication of preventable diseases and resulting extreme conditions by conducting community health education, dental programmes and instruction in water and sanitation principles.