KRB Update #2203 – Madagascar II
Keith R. Brinkman with Mercy Ships 01 January 2015
Happy & Blessed New Year 2015 / Feliz y bendecido año nuevo 2015
Heureuse nouvelle année 2015
Tratry Ny Taona 2015 (in case you are wondering this is Malagasy)
The big news we learned before the holidays was that our next field service will be here in Madagascar. This is similar to the back to back field services in 2007 and 2008 in Liberia. I am excited for the additional time and the great opportunities together we will have here – below is the official press release.
MADAGASCAR II — PUBLIC STATEMENT 15 December 2014
Mercy Ships executive board has confirmed acceptance of an invitation by the government of Madagascar to continue serving the people of this island nation with the services of its hospital ship the Africa Mercy through summer of 2016.
Operations onboard are expected to take a short pause from mid-June through end of July 2015 while the ship undergoes yearly maintenance work in Durban South Africa. The second field service for the ship is expected to begin again from early August through mid-2016.
“There is tremendous need and opportunity to deepen our partnership in Madagascar. A second field service gives us the chance to make an even deeper and more meaningful impact in support of the nation’s improving health infrastructure,” stated Mercy Ships Group Managing Director, Donovan Palmer.
The Mercy Ship will continue to with surgical projects through this second field service its areas of expertise including maxillofacial, orthopaedic, plastics, women’s health, ophthalmological and general surgeries. Additionally dental, healthcare education and training courses for Malagasy medical professionals including basic surgical skills, a safe obstetric anesthesia course, ward nurse and surgeon mentoring will also continue through to the second field service. The Mercy Ship arrived into the port of Toamasina (Tamatave), Republic of Madagascar, October 25, 2014.
Thank you all my friends and family – may you have a great start to this New Year 2015.
A few verses from our reflection time last night from Psalm 37 “Trust in the Lord, and do good; dwell in the land and befriend faithfulness”, “Commit your way to the Lord; trust in Him, and He will act.” “… for there is a future for the man of peace.”