Mercy Ships changes course due to Ebola outbreak

Mercy Ships

POSTED: Monday, September 15, 2014 - 6:44pm
UPDATED: Monday, September 15, 2014 - 7:02pm

Arp, Texas (KETK) — Four hundred volunteers from 40 different nations are preparing for a new journey this fall. Mercy Ships, for the first time in their 36 year history is changing course due to the widespread Ebola outbreak. The virus is very active in the West Africa region.
"Mercy Ships has had a presence in West Africa for the past 23 years. We have lots of friends, lots of acquaintances in that particular region. They are obviously suffering the effects of Ebola," said Russel Holmes, Director of Corporate Relations at Mercy Ships.
Last month, the United Nations World Health Organization declared the Ebola outbreak an international health emergency.
Mercy Ships says they are not equipped to treat the virus.
"We're not set up to handle an Ebola outbreak and if we went in there with our hospital ship, folks don't understand that so we would be like a magnet," said Jim Paterson, Vice President of Marine Operations at Mercy Ships. "So I think it's safer for everybody, for the local ministry of health, our own crew and volunteers, that we remove ourselves from that situation. I think we would compound the problem rather than helping it."
Mercy Ships says that although west africa is off limits for now, they are eager to return to Madagascar, after 18 years, to provide 8 months of medical care.
"92% of the population live on less than $2 a day, so you can imagine the needs are immense. so Mercy Ships feels privileged to go back to Madagascar and provide much needed services," said Holmes.  http://www.ketknbc.com/news/mercy-ships-changes-course-due-to-ebola-outbreak