The Universal Declaration of Human Rights (The United Nations, 1948) outlines in article 25.1 that everyone is entitled to sufficient social and civil living standards. This encompasses the rights to food, clothing, shelter, access to healthcare and social security. In many privileged nations, copious amounts of people never give these rights a second thought. Most were born into an abundance of security. Unfortunately, many were not. The World Health Organization estimated in 2010 that over one billion people in the world are going without access to medical care because they can 't afford it. That 's 1/7th of the world 's population.
In 1978, Don and Deyon Stephens, founders of Mercy Ship, began campaigning to bring healthcare to people all over the world. They did some research and found that 95% of the world 's largest cities were located on harbors. Wanting to help as many people as possible, they decided to buy and renovate a large ship and turn it into a hospital. Through their efforts, Anastasis, the first Mercy ship was born (Mercy Ship, n.d.-a). Now equipped with a portable medical facility, not only would …show more content…
As the world 's largest hospital ship, it has five operating theaters, a recovery ward, an intensive care unit, and a low dependency ward. In total this makes up 78 patient beds. With these facilities, Mercy Ship surgeons oversee around 7,000 cases a year. Not only are they administering medical procedures, but also encourage local surgeons to come aboard to work and train alongside them. Additionally, a shore crew enters each city and focuses on teaching health care education, holds local and rural dental and medical clinics, and gives training on construction and agriculture (Mercy Ship, n.d.-b). Mercy Ship doesn 't tackle the health care issue just on the surface, but really tries to set up a community for long lasting health care
In 1978, Don and Deyon Stephens, founders of Mercy Ship, began campaigning to bring healthcare to people all over the world. They did some research and found that 95% of the world 's largest cities were located on harbors. Wanting to help as many people as possible, they decided to buy and renovate a large ship and turn it into a hospital. Through their efforts, Anastasis, the first Mercy ship was born (Mercy Ship, n.d.-a). Now equipped with a portable medical facility, not only would …show more content…
As the world 's largest hospital ship, it has five operating theaters, a recovery ward, an intensive care unit, and a low dependency ward. In total this makes up 78 patient beds. With these facilities, Mercy Ship surgeons oversee around 7,000 cases a year. Not only are they administering medical procedures, but also encourage local surgeons to come aboard to work and train alongside them. Additionally, a shore crew enters each city and focuses on teaching health care education, holds local and rural dental and medical clinics, and gives training on construction and agriculture (Mercy Ship, n.d.-b). Mercy Ship doesn 't tackle the health care issue just on the surface, but really tries to set up a community for long lasting health care