Humanitarian Service Opportunities
Mercy ships
Mercy Ships is in need of volunteers who are trained and experienced Sterile Processing Technicians.
Mercy Ships, which started in 1978, is an international charity and we have the world’s largest civilian hospital ship in the world. Our ship, Africa Mercy, has six operating rooms onboard and ICU and ward bed space for 78 patients. The ship is staffed by 450 crew from 30-35 different nations. You can learn more about Mercy Ships going to our web site at http://www.mercyships.org/content/home and specific details on the six surgical specialties that we offer free of charge to the people of West Africa at http://www.mercyships.org/pages/faq-hcs Our goal is to bring hope and healing to the poorest of the poor in West Africa. You can see some of the lives that have been impacted and saved by viewing our videos: http://wwwyoutube.com/user/mercyshipsvideos
For a long time, and to this day, we have struggled to find trained and experienced professionals to fill our Sterile Processing Technician positions. I am hoping that you may like to volunteer, know of other technicians who would like to volunteer, or have the means and opportunity to tell others about this unique opportunity by posting or forwarding this email.
We have a current need for a person to fill the OR Sterilizer Team Leader. This position requires a one year commitment, starting in January 2011.
The position is posted at: http://www.mercyships.org/positions/c/or-surgery The applicant for the Team Leader will be required to take the two Mercy Ships training courses in January and will then join the ship immediately after the completion of these courses.
The courses are called Introduction to Mercy Ships and Gateway. Information on the courses is posted at: http://www.mercyships.org/volunteer/index/
We have a lot of information for volunteers at: http://www.mercyships.org/volunteer/index/ Everyone on the ship is a volunteer and does pay for their own way to/from the ship in West Africa and pays a crew fee. There are no paid positions on the ship; everyone is a volunteer. The crew fee covers meals and housing on the ship, as well as emergency evacuation medical insurance. In 2011, the crew fee is $680 USD per month (pro-rated for shorter service less than a month). If a person makes a one year commitment, then the crew fee will be $525 USD per month. Full details on costs can be found at http://www.mercyships.org/pages/CF-costs-and-finances If a volunteer has some financial supporters from the US, then it may be possible for the donor to receive a tax deductible receipt if Mercy Ships processes the funds. We also have staff members who work with volunteers in their support raising efforts.
If interested in volunteering on the ship, please contact Dawn Crowther at dawn.crowther@mercyships.org for an application or more information. A complete job description is available upon request.
Thank you for considering filling one of these positions
Sincerely, Dawn Crowther