The Surgery Ship, which premieres on 6 May, 2017 on National Geographic, follows the courageous doctors and nurses on board the hospital ship Africa Mercy, providing life-saving surgery and medical treatment to the most vulnerable populations off the coast of Africa.
From the producers of the award-winning documentary of the same name, this eight-part series returns to The Surgery Ship to take a more in-depth look at the inspiring stories of the volunteer doctors and nurses making life and death decisions every day, as well as the thousands of patients who desperately need their help. Africa Mercy is run by Mercy Ships, a global charity that has delivered free world-class healthcare for the poor for nearly 40 years. The organization, crewed by 400 volunteers from up to 40 nations, has treated more than 2.5 million people in 70 nations, providing more than 1.3 billion in services.
Incredible, life-saving work
“We were overwhelmed by the response to the documentary and we knew that there were more stories to be told about the incredible, life-saving work undertaken on board the Africa Mercy. Making the series has enabled us to revisit some of the volunteers and patients featured in The Surgery Ship, as well as take a closer look at day to day life on the ship” said Madeleine Hetherton, Series Producer, Media Stockade.
Treatable illnesses become life-threatening
More than 70% of the world’s population are unable to access essential surgery, as a result many common, treatable illnesses become life-threatening. For those who travel to the ship for help it is often their last hope, they have no other way of getting the vital medical care they need.
“For nearly 40 years Mercy Ships has been providing free surgeries in developing nations around the world with our crew of world-class medical and other volunteers. It is a great honour that the National Geographic series The Surgery Ship shines a light on the surgical needs in Africa by showcasing the work on board our hospital ship, the Africa Mercy,” stated Don Stephens Founder/President, Mercy Ships.
The doctors and nurses on board the ship face the biggest medical and ethical challenge of their lives. Not only are they confronted by unbelievable illness that many have never seen outside of textbooks, they must also make incredibly difficult decisions about who they are able to help out of the thousands of patients they see. A dramatic journey unfolds as they deal with life and death cases – and balance the fates of these patients in their hands.
Medical dramas, challenges, triumphs
It is not just the patients who are transformed on board the ship, the volunteers will also be challenged to their limits. Success and failure all follow as they battle to help in the face of overwhelming need. The medical dramas of the patients play alongside the challenges and triumphs of the medics, while the cultural, religious and social melting pot of life on the ship produces transformation on all sides.
The Surgery Ship is produced by Media Stockade – Madeleine Hetherton is executive producer. For National Geographic, Hamish Mykura is executive vice president of programming and development, and Sue Davidson executive producer.
What: The Surgery Ship
Where: National Geographic (DSTV 181)
When: Premieres 6 May, 2017 at 10.50pm
Web: http://www.natgeotv.com/za
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