Home / Health / UK Physio Transforms Lives on African Hospital Ship
UK Physio Transforms Lives on African Hospital Ship
5 Apr
Summary
- Physiotherapist Laura Blundell volunteers annually on a West African hospital ship.
- The ship provides surgeries for children with untreated bone conditions.
- Volunteers range from medical staff to those with non-medical skills.
For eight years, physiotherapist Laura Blundell has used her annual leave to volunteer on a hospital ship in West Africa. Serving with the charity Mercy Ships, she aids children with long-untreated conditions, helping them regain mobility. Blundell initially joined the Africa Mercy ship in Cameroon in 2017, witnessing firsthand the impact of limited surgical access.
Cameroon faces a significant shortage of surgeons, with only 1.15 available per 100,000 people, leaving many to live with treatable ailments. Blundell described seeing children in daily pain and ostracized due to conditions like rickets, as well as burn victims unable to move due to untreated injuries.
Mercy Ships operates two hospital vessels staffed by over 1,000 volunteers, covering approximately 100 professions, with only half being medical personnel. Volunteers like Blundell utilize their diverse skills in pre-assessment, surgical casting, and rehabilitation to support patients throughout their healing journey.
The rehabilitation process focuses on rebuilding strength and teaching new movement patterns post-surgery. Blundell highlighted the profound change in children's confidence as their shame dissipates, replaced by hope for a brighter future.
