SPRING LAKE, Mich., March 8, 2021 (WordNews.org) — Mercy Ships and CURE International announced a partnership to provide specialized surgical care to children living with disabilities across the continent of Africa.

The agreement brings two powerhouses together for a common purpose. CURE International — cure.org — is a Christian nonprofit organization that operates a global network of pediatric surgical hospitals that serve children with disabilities. Since its inception in 1996, CURE has conducted more than 5 million patient visits.

Mercy Ships — mercyships.org — uses hospital ships to deliver free, world-class healthcare services, capacity building, and sustainable development to those with little access in the developing world. Founded in 1978 by Don and Deyon Stephens, Mercy Ships has worked in more than 55 developing countries, providing services valued at more than $1.7 billion and directly benefitting more than 2.8 million people.

Both organizations provide hope and healing to children living with disabilities through surgical care in under-resourced countries.

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The two organizations said in a news release that the pandemic has made access to specialized surgical care even more difficult. Combining the resources of two like-minded organizations will provide treatment to the most vulnerable in under-resourced countries like Uganda and Niger.

However, even before the pandemic, children that need specialized surgical care often wait years before receiving treatment because of limited national resources or the lack of specialized doctors, resulting in added economic burdens for their families and additional suffering. The pandemic has only further compounded these factors.

“An estimated 16.9 million people die each year from lack of accessible surgical care. A situation that has only been made worse by the current COVID pandemic. Addressing that need in Africa requires partnership and collaboration. Together with our colleagues at CURE we are pleased to be able to extend the essential services Mercy Ships provides alongside our ship-based programs,” said Dr Peter Linz, Mercy Ships International Chief Medical Officer.

“Dr. Peter Linz and I meet on a monthly basis with the Chief Medical Officers from two other medical NGOs to discuss COVID and it became clear that if we pooled our resources and people, it would increase our capacity to reach even more children in need of surgical care,” said Dr. Richard Gardner, Chief Medical Officer of CURE International.

Mercy Ships sent UK volunteer anesthesiologist, Dr. Sarah Kwok (pictured), to the CURE Children’s Hospital of Uganda, which has been open during the pandemic and admitting children in need of specialized neurological care for conditions like hydrocephalus.

“It has been a privilege to work with CURE Uganda at their neurosurgical hospital. The children here have life threatening conditions and the surgeries performed on a daily basis are changing lives and transforming futures,” Dr. Kwok said. “I have joined a team of amazing anesthesia providers and we are learning so much from each other. My hope is that CURE and Mercy Ships continue to partner together to provide the highest standards of care for every child we touch.”

In addition, Dr. Tertius Venter, a South African volunteer plastic reconstructive surgeon for Mercy Ships is also currently at the CURE Children’s Hospital of Niger assisting in the provision of surgery to children who have suffered from the effects of burn accidents that contract their skin and limit mobility.

“We’re so excited to join hands with Mercy Ships to increase access to surgical care in strategic locations across the CURE network,” said Justin Narducci, president and CEO of CURE International. “The challenges of COVID have resulted in creative solutions and collaborative partnership that help us effectively treat the most vulnerable, children with disabilities.”