MSUK at Boat Show

Ophthalmic Surgeon, Richard Newsom (46) from the New Forest, will be attending the Southampton Boat Show this year but not because he is buying a boat.  Instead he is joining  Mercy Ships, which is exhibiting at the show for the first time.

Richard volunteered onboard its ship, the Africa Mercy,  in Liberia last year for two weeks and was overwhelmed by the facilities onboard and the selfless volunteers that give up their lives to help the needs of others. 

The Africa Mercy,  the world’s largest charity hospital ship, is currently in Benin and Richard will return to it in November for a further two weeks to help treat patients with debilitating eye conditions.

Richard, who works at Southampton General said: “I am really looking forward to returning to the Africa Mercy.  My first visit last year was extremely memorable.  I was amazed by the incredible dedication of the volunteers and the quality of the equipment that we were using.  It was also my first experience of seeing first hand extreme poverty and the devastation that civil wars can have on people’s lives.  

“Being part of a team that was helping re-build the lives of so many who were suffering was a very rewarding and humbling experience that will stay with me forever and that’s why I’m returning this year. 

“Mercy Ships’ presence at the Southampton Boat Show will showcase the work of Mercy Ships to all those who love boats and I’m sure they will realise that the Africa Mercy is truly the best boat in the world!” 

Judy Polkinhorn Executive Director for Mercy Ships UK said: “The Southampton Boat Show is a great way for people to learn about what we do and volunteers like Richard make it all happen.  We are extremely grateful to all our volunteers as without them, we wouldn’t be able to continue to save lives.      The Africa Mercy is a very impressive vessel and the boat show is a great place for people to learn more about how it became the world’s largest charity hospital ship. ” 

Once a Danish rail ferry, the Africa Mercy has been converted to a state-of-the-art hospital ship, with six operating theatres, X-ray facilities, a CT scanner, a pharmacy and a laboratory, in addition to a 78-bed ward and an  intensive care unit. The ship also houses more than 400 volunteers  ranging from surgeons and nurses to cooks and engineers.