A PLASTIC manufacturing firm has come to the rescue of a hospital ship that provides life-saving medical treatment to the poorest people in Africa.

‘Mercy Ships’, a charity that delivers medical help to the poorest countries in the world contacted What More UK

Ltd, based in Padiham, when they desperately needed coloured measuring jugs for Naso Gastric feeding and dispensing drinking water.

Coloured measuring jugs were required so the different colours could be easily identified for different uses.

After searching on Google, they contacted What More UK Ltd and asked if they could have some of the one litre jugs from the ‘Tropical’ range.

Bosses on board the ship, which is currently moored off Guinea, said the jugs are invaluable for helping them to provide basic treatment for their patients.

“We were so glad that What More UK stepped in and helped us with donating the measuring jugs.

“It will make a huge difference on the wards.” said Steve Cook, procurement manager at Mercy Ships.
“Since the charity started in 1978, we have carried out 61,000 life changing operations, treated 539,000 patients in village clinics and 278,000 dental procedures.

“Our medical teams are all volunteers and we rely on charitable donations for our work, and these jugs will be used every day, particularly for Naso Gastric feeding and dispensing drinking water.”

The ship ‘Africa Mercy’ started life as a Danish rail ferry and was subsequently converted into a hospital ship with six operating theatres and recovery rooms. Later this year it will move to the Congo to undertake urgent medical treatment.

What More, based on Shuttleworth Mead Business Park, started up in 1999 on the Altham industrial estate, and is now the supplier to major UK stores and 39 countries, including China.
Jennifer Makin, sales office manager at What More UK, said: “We receive requests from charities all the time, but this is definitely the most unusual.

“As far as we know our coloured measuring jugs are unique and we have supplied 48 of them to Mercy Ships.”