Sea Mercy to provide aid and medical assistance to remote island communities in the Solomon Islands
It is my understanding that the benevolent organization known as Sea Mercy has recently signed a MOU with the Solomon Islands Ministry of Health and Medical Services (MHMS) that will allow Sea Mercy’s fleet of Floating Health Care Clinics to provide and operate FHCC vessels and provide health care teams to deliver care to 300+ inhabited remote islands and communities in the Solomon Islands.
Sea Mercy is (and I quote) “a benevolent program developed for critical health, disaster, economic development and education care needs for remote islanders. Sea Mercy is a non-profit 501 (c) (3) charity with a simple vision and mission to "stand in the gap" with service delivery platforms (vessels), trained health care volunteers, support equipment, and critical care services until island nations partners can develop their "outer island" health care infrastructure and/or when disasters occur.
“Even with incredible financial support to build the needed health services infrastructure provided by Australia, New Zealand, France and the United States, a desperate health care need still exists for a large percentage of the remote island communities.
“With over 20,000 islands spread across 11,000,000 square miles of the Pacific Ocean, there are no roads, power lines, or phone systems to connect the smaller, less populated remote islands to the same services offered on the larger islands.
“With an incredible disparity in infant mortality rates rising, immunization rates dropping, and the comparative overall health and longevity far from those on the primary islands, the need is urgent and that need is the very reason that Sea Mercy was created.
“We are here to "stand in the gap" and work with the local governments and international aid organizations until the local governments can meet those needs on their own. We are also there to assist in emergencies during natural disasters.
“Sea Mercy's vision is to provide 'Last Mile' humanitarian solutions for remote island communities. Our mission is therefore to ensure our community sector has the practical tools and available talent to accomplish those visionary ends.”
Sea Mercy’s Floating Health Care Clinic (FHCC) vessels (large sailing catamarans) deliver teams of international health care professionals, supplies and equipment to several remote Pacific communities in a number of countries.
Sea Mercy’s proposed commitment to the Solomon Islands, expected to commence operations in May this year, will provide immense relief and medical assistance to remote communities in both the Western and Isabel Provinces.
It is with much gratitude that I thank Sea Mercy for choosing to direct help to the Solomon Islands with health care support and treatment.
I also thank the Solomon Islands MOHM for the signing of the MOU with Sea Mercy to allow for Sea Mercy to begin the vital preparations for their much needed assistance to the 80,000 plus people of the more remote communities in the Solomons.
Yours sincerely
Frank Short
