A UK glove manufacturer is helping keep people in West Africa safe through its generous donation of examination gloves to an international charity working in the region.
Enfield-based Polyco supplied 256,000 latex and 30,000 nitrile examination gloves to Mercy Ships, the international charity that provides free medical care and humanitarian aid for some of the world’s poorest people.
The gloves will be used on the Africa Mercy, a floating hospital that is currently treating patients in Sierra Leone. The ship has six operating theatres, X-ray facilities and CT scanner, a pharmacy and a laboratory. There is capacity for 78 in-patients, with four wards and a small intensive care unit. It is staffed by an international crew of dedicated volunteers from more than 40 nations who give up their time to help save the lives of others.
Tricia Maher, senior area sales manager of Polyco, said: “We are proud to donate to the charity Mercy Ships and hope that this donation will help it continue its good work in West Africa, providing help and healing to those less fortunate. The work of the volunteers is extremely humbling and really makes a difference to so many people’s lives. I am thrilled that we have been able to help in some way and support such a worthy cause.”
Judy Polkinhorn, executive director of Mercy Ships UK, said: “Kind donations such as this one are vital in ensuring Mercy Ships can continue to help and provide care to those who have little, or no access to surgical and medical help. Without these donations Mercy Ships would simply cease to exist and we are extremely thankful to Polyco for its generosity.”
Over the last 30 years, Mercy Ships has worked in more than 70 countries providing services valued at £530million and impacting about 2.9million people. For more information, or to make a donation, visit www.mercyships.org.uk
