Humanitarian Travel Grant: Head and Neck Surgical Care aboard Africa Mercy
Global surgery is a critical component of humanitarian efforts within low-resource countries.
Allen L. Feng, MD
Global surgery is a critical component of humanitarian efforts within low-resource countries. With the surgical burden of global disease being 30%1, this need remains ever present. The Africa Mercy, a 500-foot floating hospital operated by Mercy Ships, is an international charity that helps fulfill this need. Africa Mercy represents the largest nongovernment hospital ship in the world, housing over 400 crew members and featuring five operating rooms, an intensive care unit, and beds for up to 82 patients. Crew members serve on a volunteer basis from countries all over the world with a unified goal of treating underserved patients while traveling along Africa’s west coast. They treat several conditions, including a wide array of head and neck tumors. I was fortunate to have the opportunity to work aboard the Africa Mercy with Mark G. Shrime, MD, in large part thanks to an AAO-HNSF Humanitarian Travel Grant.
Reference
1. Shrime MG, Bickler SW, Alkire BC, Mock C. Global Burden of Surgical Disease: An Estimation From the Provider Perspective. Lancet Glob Health. 2015 Apr 27. 3 Suppl 2, S8-9.