Ghana Health Services has taken delivery of a donation of Personal Protective Equipment (PPEs) on behalf of the country from the president of Mercy Ships.

The donation includes 9000 PPEs consisting of 1,500 nursing caps, 1,500 medical protective glasses, 1,500 masks FFP2, 1,500 pairs of gloves, 1,500 surgical gowns, 1,500 pairs of shoe covers and five Infrared Thermometers (IT).

Rosa Whitaker donated the items on behalf of the charity to Dr Patrick Kuma-Aboagye, Director-General of the Services to support the national battle with the novel coronavirus.

“We applaud Ghana’s fight against this virus,” stated Whitaker.

Ghanaians hold a warm place in the hearts of all Mercy Ships crew, volunteers, and international staff the charity's president said. 

Mercy Ships has been involved with Ghana since 1991 and a Mercy Ship has docked four times in Ghana.  The Africa Mercy has 85 long/short term crew from Africa, 10 of whom are Ghanaians in roles ranging from engineering to Human Resource.

The donation was made in the presence of Dr Juliette Tuakli and Lucy Quist Mercy Ships International Board Members who reside in Ghana.

“Mercy Ships is committed to building on the collaboration between NGOs, the private sector and the public sector and encourages others to do the same,” she added.

“Although many have predicted that the pandemic is inevitable within Africa and that this continent will soon become the epicenter of the new outbreak, we stand with our African partners at this crucial time.

"It is our hope and belief that nations can get ahead of this curve and hold back the relentless effects that this pandemic could have on our formal and informal economies and people,” Whitaker stated.

According to her, for more than 30 years, Mercy Ships has stood shoulder to shoulder with our African partners to address the global surgery crisis. 

"Even though borders are closed, and we cannot physically be present right now, Mercy Ships continues to conduct online medical capacity training and support ongoing projects with partners on the ground. We are committed for our ship to return to help strengthen healthcare systems within West and Central Africa, as soon as the global situation allows,” said Whitaker.

Mercy Ships has donated Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) to eight partner nations within West and Central Africa: Benin, Congo, Ghana, Liberia, Madagascar, Senegal, Sierra Leone, and Togo totalling 80,800 items and 20 infrared thermometers and will donate PPE to an additional three countries Cameroon, the Democratic Republic of Congo and Guinea.