Equipment Donation Solve Hospital Ship’s Heat Problem
When Mercy Ships decided to increase the airflow in the CAT scanner room on board its hospital ship, Africa Mercy, the international charity turned to Elta Fans’ Applied Technology division for help.
The Africa Mercy operates in hot and humid climates in Africa making it challenging to keep the medical spaces cool, this is particularly difficult in the CAT scanner room. Adding to this problem, in 2013 Mercy Ships installed a new CT scanner which produces a lot more heat than the older model. To adequately remove the heat buildup and bring in cooled air, a more powerful fan was required.
Sales Engineers at Elta produced three viable options and presented them to Mercy Ships’ procurement manager, Steve Cook. Cook and his engineering team decided on Elta’s Viper, inline centrifugal fan SCC350-1AC.
After learning more about the charitable work Mercy Ships does throughout the world, as well as the time and services given up by the medical professionals, Elta decided to donate all of the equipment free of charge to help further support the charity’s operations.
The Africa Mercy, operated by Mercy Ships is the world’s largest civilian hospital ship, providing free healthcare services to those living in developing countries, where the services of professional medical staff are needed most. The ship is currently docked in Madagascar, one of the world’s poorest countries, with only two physicians and three hospital beds available for every 10,000 people. To many thousands of people, Mercy Ships represents the difference between life and death.
The Africa Mercy started life as a Danish rail ferry and was subsequently converted into a hospital ship with six operating theatres and recovery rooms. The crew are all volunteers bringing their expertise as surgeons, doctors, nurses, dentists, engineers, caterers and cleaners. Not only do they volunteer, they also have to raise their own funds through sponsorship in order to serve.
Commenting on the contribution from Elta Fans, Steve Cook said, “With this great donation we can ensure that the environment for the medical staff and patients will be more pleasant. It will also add to the longevity of this critical piece of medical equipment for the service it provides. Working in partnership with companies like Elta, helps to support Mercy Ships’ mission to bring hope and healing to those we serve.”