Legacy of Hope

November marks the completion of the first Mercy Ships Biomedical Technicians programme, which equipped six Liberian hospital workers with the skills to install, maintain, and repair complex medical equipment at five of Liberia’s hospitals.

Developed and led by Carlos Amaral of Brazil, the project ran from March through October and included courses in electricity, electronics and medical equipment, and computer training.

“[We have] been able to offer more services to the community because of the biomedical training programme,” said Alfred Nyuma, a laboratory supervisor at Redemption Hospital in Monrovia and participant in the project.

“By teaching the staff how to manage and fix laboratory equipment, the hospital can now offer more testing to its patients. The arms of the Mercy Ship have reached many Liberians!”

Mercy Ships provided basic repair tool kits to the participants and taught them how to order spare parts and repair equipment at their respective hospitals.

Amaral gave hands on instruction and guidance for the repair of 12 machines, including anaesthesia devices, centrifuges, and x-ray machines; and for the installation of 11 machines, including chemistry analysers, blood cell counters, and an electrocardiograph monitor.

The programme was also designed to promote biomedical engineering as a career choice in Liberia and Amaral held a series of workshops for students to show them the need for trained biomedical engineers in Liberia.

A total of 99 students attended the workshops and visited the ship to see the cutting-edge medical equipment onboard.

“My colleagues and I had a fine time with the crew,” Saki Golafale, one workshop student, said. After this training, he realised the need for such professionals. “Liberia has only one biomedical engineer who is aging, and the gap needs to be filled,” Saki said.

In addition to the training programme, Amaral also compiled a Report of Biomedical Infrastructure in Liberia for the Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, suggesting ways to improve working conditions, maintenance, procedures, and personnel qualifications in Liberia’s major medical facilities after Mercy Ships leaves in December. This programme is leaving behind a legacy of hope and ongoing care.