FREETOWN — Sierra Leone’s Vice President has officially welcomed the Mercy Ships back to the country, describing its mission as a vital contribution to national healthcare delivery.
The vessel’s arrival marks its eighth mission to Sierra Leone since 1992.
In his remarks, the Vice President commended Mercy Global for its long-standing commitment to saving lives and restoring dignity through free surgical interventions.
“Mercy Global’s vision of hope and restoring dignity through various surgical procedures has improved and saved the lives of millions worldwide. In Sierra Leone alone, they performed over 3,600 surgeries during their last two field visits,” he said.
He added that the organization’s work complements government priorities in strengthening the health workforce, developing infrastructure, expanding access to essential medicines and equipment, and improving diagnostic services.
“I assured Mercy Global and other stakeholders that the activities of Mercy Ship will feed into our broader efforts to transform healthcare delivery for the benefit of our people,” the Vice President affirmed.
Founded in 1978, Mercy Ships is a global humanitarian organization that operates the world’s largest civilian hospital ship, staffed by volunteer medical professionals. The charity provides free surgeries for conditions such as cleft lip and palate, cataracts, tumors, and orthopedic deformities.
Over the past four decades, Mercy Ships has worked in more than 55 countries, providing life-saving care to people who otherwise lack access to safe surgical treatment.
Its repeated visits to Sierra Leone highlight a strong partnership aimed at improving healthcare outcomes.
