Send an anesthetic nurse to Africa!

Hi there!

Who I am

I am a 36 year old anesthesia nurse currently working in Basel, Switzerland. It has always been my dream to work with an organization which has a long-term impact on the regions that they serve in.

From October 2015 - February 2016, I have had the opportunity to serve in the anesthesia department aboard the Africa Mercy, in Tamatave, Madagascar, with the global charity organization, Mercy Ships. 

And now they have asked me to return to serve for another 20 Months in Benin and Cameroon, Westafrica. Yayyyy! Since Mercy Ships is an organisation that is volunteer-based, I need YOUR help to cover my expenses during those 20 Months for food and accomodation, travel costs, vaccines, insurances.

This is your chance to make a difference in the lives of the poorest of the poor. I am willing to go -will you send me?

So who is MERCY SHIPS?

Since 1978, Mercy Ships has operated a fleet of hospital ships that travel to developing nations all around the world, offering medical services to those in need, who would normally have no access to these life-saving services.
Mercy Ships has to this day performed several thousands of surgeries - for example, reconstructive and orthopedic surgeries, such as craniofacial tumors, cleft lip, cleft palate, ear-nose-throat diseases, club feet, neglected trauma and congenital conditions.

The Medical team also provides eye care and oral health treatment, physiotherapy, health education, medical capacity building and biomed training.
Mercy Ships also partners with local agencies to help families and communities learn practical and natural food-producing skills that reduce malnutrition and increase food security in the nations they serve and provide many other services.
One of Mercy Ships' goals is to leave the host nation better equipped with the training, tools, and infrastructure to care for their own after the ship leaves the country. This is what I escpecially love about working with Mercy Ships apart from the acute care - they leave a lasting impact in the countries they serve and I am thrilled to be a part of this AWESOME work!

You can find out more about the mission and successes of Mercy Ships, and where they serve, on one of their local websites: www.mercyships.org , www.mercyships.de, or www.mercyships.ch
- you can also donate there (on the link "support a crew member" - just write my name and the designation code #4157  along with the donation).

Part of my responsibilities on the ship will be welcoming and preparing the patients for surgery, monitoring patient's vital signs as well as maintaining and monitoring the anesthesia equipment, medical supplies and medications.

I will be maintaining a blog at www.silkekessing.com
to keep everyone up to date on all the happenings during my trip.

Since Mercy Ships invests all its donations in the projects, materials they need, and the people they serve, I have to raise all of the finances I need for my time of service on the ship.

So please go fund me :)