𝐒𝐭𝐚𝐭𝐞 𝐇𝐨𝐮𝐬𝐞, 𝐅𝐫𝐞𝐞𝐭𝐨𝐰𝐧, 4 𝐉𝐮𝐧𝐞 2026 – His Excellency President Dr. Julius Maada Bio has hosted a farewell lunch for the Sierra Leonean crew members of the Global Mercy Ship and reaffirmed his commitment to strengthening partnership between Mercy Ships and the Government of Sierra Leone.
The farewell lunch marked the culmination of another successful chapter in the longstanding partnership between Mercy Ships and Sierra Leone, a relationship that has significantly enhanced access to life-changing surgical care, healthcare training, and institutional capacity building across the country.
Speaking on behalf of Mercy Ships leadership, Mr. Matthew Murray expressed profound gratitude to President Bio and the Government of Sierra Leone for the hospitality, support, and cooperation extended to the organization throughout its stay.
“We are deeply honoured by the respect and support your government has shown us. The people of Sierra Leone have been exceptionally welcoming and friendly. We are also grateful to the many Sierra Leonean volunteers who have worked alongside us throughout the years. Today, we are privileged to have many of them here to personally express their appreciation,” he said.
Representing the Sierra Leonean volunteers, Mr. Albert Sam and Mr. Edward Carew shared moving testimonies of lives transformed through Mercy Ships’ interventions. They described the organization as a beacon of hope that has restored dignity, confidence, and renewed opportunities for thousands of Sierra Leoneans.
“Mercy Ships is more than a ship; it is a vessel of hope and transformation. Through its interventions, countless Sierra Leoneans have regained their health, confidence, and dignity. Stories such as those of Amara and Mama Musu stand as powerful testimonies to the impact Mercy Ships has had on communities across the country,” they stated.
In his remarks, Minister of Health, Dr. Austin Demby, commended President Bio for his visionary leadership and lauded Mercy Ships for its exceptional contribution to Sierra Leone’s healthcare system over the past three years.
“This is one of the happiest moments of my life. President Julius Maada Bio is a leader whose commitment to improving the lives of Sierra Leoneans continues to inspire confidence. On behalf of the people of Sierra Leone, I thank His Excellency and the entire Mercy Ships team for their extraordinary service. More than 4,000 successful surgeries represent thousands of stories of hope, healing, and renewed dignity,” Dr. Demby said.
The Health Minister further emphasized that Mercy Ships’ impact extends far beyond surgical care, highlighting the organization’s substantial investments in healthcare workforce development, institutional strengthening, and long-term health systems support.
In his response, President Bio expressed profound appreciation to Mercy Ships for its invaluable contribution to healthcare delivery and human development in Sierra Leone.
“I want to thank you for your outstanding service and for providing life-changing and life-saving opportunities to many Sierra Leoneans. Your confidence in our country and your commitment to partnership have made a lasting impact. The achievements of the past three years have been remarkable, and the benefits will continue to be felt for generations to come,” the President said.
President Bio noted that while the vessel may be departing Sierra Leonean shores, the legacy of Mercy Ships will endure through the thousands of lives transformed, healthcare professionals trained, and institutions strengthened.
“The ship may leave, but the legacy remains. The training provided to our healthcare professionals, the lives transformed, and the institutions strengthened will continue to serve our nation for many years to come,” he stated.
The President also paid tribute to the Sierra Leonean volunteers who served alongside Mercy Ships, describing them as exemplary ambassadors who demonstrated the country’s values of compassion, professionalism, and service.
“I am extremely proud of our volunteers. We are a resilient and welcoming people, and when we work together, we showcase the true character of Sierra Leone. On behalf of the Government and people of Sierra Leone, I extend our heartfelt appreciation to Mercy Ships and everyone who has contributed to this remarkable partnership,” President Bio concluded.
Over the course of its mission in Sierra Leone, Mercy Ships has provided thousands of free surgical procedures, delivered specialized medical training, and supported critical health systems strengthening initiatives, leaving an enduring legacy that will continue to benefit communities across the country for years to come.
Later, the leadership of Mercy Ships had a briefing session with the President where they presented a plaque of appreciation for his exemplary support during the three-year field service.
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State House Media and Communicatio𝐒𝐈𝐄𝐑𝐑𝐀 𝐋𝐄𝐎𝐍𝐄’𝐒 𝐏𝐑𝐄𝐒𝐈𝐃𝐄𝐍𝐓 𝐉𝐔𝐋𝐈𝐔𝐒 𝐌𝐀𝐀𝐃𝐀 𝐁𝐈𝐎 𝐇𝐎𝐒𝐓𝐒 𝐅𝐀𝐑𝐄𝐖𝐄𝐋𝐋 𝐋𝐔𝐍𝐂𝐇 𝐅𝐎𝐑 𝐒𝐈𝐄𝐑𝐑𝐀 𝐋𝐄𝐎𝐍𝐄𝐀𝐍 𝐂𝐑𝐄𝐖 𝐌𝐄𝐌𝐁𝐄𝐑𝐒 𝐎𝐍 𝐆𝐋𝐎𝐁𝐀𝐋 𝐌𝐄𝐑𝐂𝐘 𝐒𝐇𝐈𝐏, 𝐂𝐎𝐌𝐌𝐈𝐓𝐒 𝐓𝐎 𝐒𝐓𝐑𝐄𝐍𝐆𝐓𝐇𝐄𝐍 𝐏𝐀𝐑𝐓𝐍𝐄𝐑𝐒𝐇𝐈𝐏 𝐁𝐄𝐓𝐖𝐄𝐄𝐍 𝐌𝐄𝐑𝐂𝐘 𝐒𝐇𝐈𝐏𝐒 𝐀𝐍𝐃 𝐆𝐎𝐕𝐄𝐑𝐍𝐌𝐄𝐍𝐓
𝐒𝐭𝐚𝐭𝐞 𝐇𝐨𝐮𝐬𝐞, 𝐅𝐫𝐞𝐞𝐭𝐨𝐰𝐧, 4 𝐉𝐮𝐧𝐞 2026 – His Excellency President Dr. Julius Maada Bio has hosted a farewell lunch for the Sierra Leonean crew members of the Global Mercy Ship and reaffirmed his commitment to strengthening partnership between Mercy Ships and the Government of Sierra Leone.
The farewell lunch marked the culmination of another successful chapter in the longstanding partnership between Mercy Ships and Sierra Leone, a relationship that has significantly enhanced access to life-changing surgical care, healthcare training, and institutional capacity building across the country.
Speaking on behalf of Mercy Ships leadership, Mr. Matthew Murray expressed profound gratitude to President Bio and the Government of Sierra Leone for the hospitality, support, and cooperation extended to the organization throughout its stay.
“We are deeply honoured by the respect and support your government has shown us. The people of Sierra Leone have been exceptionally welcoming and friendly. We are also grateful to the many Sierra Leonean volunteers who have worked alongside us throughout the years. Today, we are privileged to have many of them here to personally express their appreciation,” he said.
Representing the Sierra Leonean volunteers, Mr. Albert Sam and Mr. Edward Carew shared moving testimonies of lives transformed through Mercy Ships’ interventions. They described the organization as a beacon of hope that has restored dignity, confidence, and renewed opportunities for thousands of Sierra Leoneans.
“Mercy Ships is more than a ship; it is a vessel of hope and transformation. Through its interventions, countless Sierra Leoneans have regained their health, confidence, and dignity. Stories such as those of Amara and Mama Musu stand as powerful testimonies to the impact Mercy Ships has had on communities across the country,” they stated.
In his remarks, Minister of Health, Dr. Austin Demby, commended President Bio for his visionary leadership and lauded Mercy Ships for its exceptional contribution to Sierra Leone’s healthcare system over the past three years.
“This is one of the happiest moments of my life. President Julius Maada Bio is a leader whose commitment to improving the lives of Sierra Leoneans continues to inspire confidence. On behalf of the people of Sierra Leone, I thank His Excellency and the entire Mercy Ships team for their extraordinary service. More than 4,000 successful surgeries represent thousands of stories of hope, healing, and renewed dignity,” Dr. Demby said.
The Health Minister further emphasized that Mercy Ships’ impact extends far beyond surgical care, highlighting the organization’s substantial investments in healthcare workforce development, institutional strengthening, and long-term health systems support.
In his response, President Bio expressed profound appreciation to Mercy Ships for its invaluable contribution to healthcare delivery and human development in Sierra Leone.
“I want to thank you for your outstanding service and for providing life-changing and life-saving opportunities to many Sierra Leoneans. Your confidence in our country and your commitment to partnership have made a lasting impact. The achievements of the past three years have been remarkable, and the benefits will continue to be felt for generations to come,” the President said.
President Bio noted that while the vessel may be departing Sierra Leonean shores, the legacy of Mercy Ships will endure through the thousands of lives transformed, healthcare professionals trained, and institutions strengthened.
“The ship may leave, but the legacy remains. The training provided to our healthcare professionals, the lives transformed, and the institutions strengthened will continue to serve our nation for many years to come,” he stated.
The President also paid tribute to the Sierra Leonean volunteers who served alongside Mercy Ships, describing them as exemplary ambassadors who demonstrated the country’s values of compassion, professionalism, and service.
“I am extremely proud of our volunteers. We are a resilient and welcoming people, and when we work together, we showcase the true character of Sierra Leone. On behalf of the Government and people of Sierra Leone, I extend our heartfelt appreciation to Mercy Ships and everyone who has contributed to this remarkable partnership,” President Bio concluded.
Over the course of its mission in Sierra Leone, Mercy Ships has provided thousands of free surgical procedures, delivered specialized medical training, and supported critical health systems strengthening initiatives, leaving an enduring legacy that will continue to benefit communities across the country for years to come.
Later, the leadership of Mercy Ships had a briefing session with the President where they presented a plaque of appreciation for his exemplary support during the three-year field service.
