"I work alongside surgeons and anaesthetists who perform the surgeries. My day-to-day work involves performing patient assessments, inpatient perioperative medical care, outpatient medical consultations, and providing support for the ship's infant feeding programme. Other times, I hold the emergency on-call and assist in surgeries."
Mercy Ship's five operating theatres have 480 international volunteers caring for up to 78 patients at a time in the ship's wards.
All the support services such as pathology, physiotherapy and radiology are provided onboard, meaning the 16,000 tonne hospital vessel can be self-sufficient in desperately poor conditions.
"I am moved by effects of severe debilitating illnesses that are mostly diseases of poverty like massive disfiguring benign tumours and growths due to the lack of access to early surgical intervention," said the 28-year-old, known onboard as Dr Luke.
"Due to the lack of access to quality healthcare and extreme poverty, many live with their respective conditions. There are no specialty surgical services available in the whole region.
"Equally moving is the love, humility and commitment shown by doctors, nurses, allied healthcare professionals, cooks, cleaners, engineers and deck hands who have been serving with Mercy Ships for many years.
"Their attitude towards each other, patients and those below them were so different from our competitive working environment back home. Hierarchy is not apparent as everyone works for the same purpose and dedication. Without any financial remuneration or professional reward, all have to contribute a monthly crew fee for the privilege of being there.
"Some of the most gratifying moments for me were seeing very sick patients, especially infants, recover. One particular case was a civil war refugee baby from the Central African Republic. She had been living with her father in a refugee camp and unable to access much help as they do not speak any French or local dialects.
"She had a cleft palate which meant she was severely malnourished, and which made pre- and post-operative care onboard challenging. She developed respiratory distress post-surgery, remained incubated post-operatively for an extended period. She was unwell in our small ICU for many days before making a complete turnaround."
He said there were many stories of recovery; massive tumours and deformities removed, disability corrected, sight restored and lives transformed.
"All these can be easily attributed to the legacy of modern medicine," he said.
"But there are some things that cannot be replicated like the dedication to serve the last and least of society. This is what we are lacking in the world today."
Dr Wee looked forward to returning to the Wanganui Schola Sacra Choir and Wanganui East Baptist Church in June when he will have stories to tell, inspiring others to embark on bringing hope and healing.
For information about Mercy Ships visit www.mercyships.org.nz or see Mercy in Action on YouTube http://bit.ly/1geteQc
Making a difference
Since 1978, Mercy Ships has performed services valued at more than $1 billion, directly impacting more than 3.2 million of the world's poorest people.
Volunteers and staff with Mercy Ships have performed more than 70,000 life-changing operations including correctional surgery for cleft lip and palate, cataract removal, straightening of crossed eyes, orthopaedic and facial reconstruction. The operations are free to patients.
About 30 New Zealanders volunteer their services with Mercy Ships every year with opportunities in maritime, medical and operational positions.Compelling conversations with other Wanganui doctors who had worked in some of the world's poorest regions inspired Dr Luke Wee to follow a long-held dream.