Freetown, Sierra Leone – August 14, 2024 – The world’s largest civilian hospital ship, the Global Mercy, arrived in Freetown today to begin a new ten-month mission, delivering life-changing surgeries and providing critical training for Sierra Leonean healthcare workers.
The return of the ship marks a significant collaboration between the international charity Mercy Ships and the Government of Sierra Leone.
“We are extremely happy that Mercy Ships honored the President’s call to stay longer to provide life-changing surgeries and train our healthcare professionals,” said Dr. Austin Demby, Sierra Leone’s Minister of Health.
“In the next ten months, the ship will perform over 1,400 free surgeries and will continue on-ship training for 130 healthcare workers. As Minister of Health, I am excited about this possibility and very proud of the partnership with Mercy Ships.”
The Global Mercy’s return follows a brief departure in June after spending the previous ten months in Sierra Leone. During that time, the ship’s crew performed 1,979 surgeries for 1,728 patients and provided training for 145 healthcare professionals.
The ship’s return was prompted by an invitation from President Julius Maada Bio, who emphasized his administration’s commitment to affordable and quality healthcare in the pursuit of Universal Health Coverage.
“The partnership with Mercy Ships, which began in 1992, remains a key part of our strategy to deliver safe and accessible surgery for all Sierra Leoneans,” President Bio said in an address last week.
In collaboration with the Ministry of Health, Mercy Ships has selected patients from 12 locations across Sierra Leone for the upcoming surgical programs.
These programs will cover a range of medical needs, including maxillofacial, general, pediatric orthopedic, pediatric general, reconstructive plastic, and ophthalmic surgeries. Additionally, the ship will continue its ongoing support of staff training at Connaught Hospital and the University of Sierra Leone.
Dr. Sandra Lako, Mercy Ships Country Director for Sierra Leone, expressed her optimism about the impact of this new mission. “We are delighted that the Global Mercy has returned to Sierra Leone,” she said. “With the strong partnerships formed, we will build upon the existing impact and momentum to support government plans towards the sustainable development of the surgical care system.”
The return of the Global Mercy was celebrated as it docked in Freetown after a brief maintenance period in Tenerife. The ship’s volunteers, along with a dedicated Sierra Leonean day crew, are now preparing the onboard hospital to commence the next phase of free surgeries.
