In May and June 2022, the Mercy Ships Africa Celebration celebrated 30 years of service and partnership with Africa. Together we will build a future for safe and affordable surgery for all.

The events were organized by the Government of Senegal and Mercy Ships, under the high patronage of H.E. Mr. Macky Sall, President of the Republic of Senegal.

As part of its celebration of 30 years in Africa (1990/91 -2021/22), Mercy Ships committed to consolidating and strengthening its partnership with African countries.

It was an opportunity to mobilize political decision-makers and public, private, and community leaders in order to work together for the integration and scaling up of care surgery in national health development strategies.

To celebrate this historic event, the President of the Republic of Senegal, H.E. Mr. Macky Sall, agreed to host the event in Dakar, Senegal from May to June 2022 to create a special partnership between the people of Africa and Mercy Ships.

This unique commemoration, the Africa Celebration, aimed to:

(i) increase opportunities for improved surgical care and training in Africa and

(ii) strengthen the relationship Mercy Ships has with the people of Africa

In May and June 2022, the Mercy Ships Africa Celebration celebrated 30 years of service and partnership with Africa. Together we will build a future for safe and affordable surgery for all.

The events were organized by the Government of Senegal and Mercy Ships, under the high patronage of H.E. Mr. Macky Sall, President of the Republic of Senegal.

As part of its celebration of 30 years in Africa (1990/91 -2021/22), Mercy Ships committed to consolidating and strengthening its partnership with African countries.

It was an opportunity to mobilize political decision-makers and public, private, and community leaders in order to work together for the integration and scaling up of care surgery in national health development strategies.

To celebrate this historic event, the President of the Republic of Senegal, H.E. Mr. Macky Sall, agreed to host the event in Dakar, Senegal from May to June 2022 to create a special partnership between the people of Africa and Mercy Ships.

This unique commemoration, the Africa Celebration, aimed to:

(i) increase opportunities for improved surgical care and training in Africa and

(ii) strengthen the relationship Mercy Ships has with the people of Africa

It was organized around three major events:

1. An international symposium on strengthening surgical, obstetric, and anaesthetic care systems by 2030 in Africa. This symposium brought together nearly 200 participants and took place in two stages between March and May 2022 in Dakar. A scientific meeting of experts from May 4-5, 2022 and a meeting of African Ministers of Health May 6, 2022 took place. The symposium was led by the Government of Senegal in collaboration with Mercy Ships, the World Health Organization Regional Office for Africa, and the African Colleges of Surgeons.

2. On May 30, 2022, following a ribbon cutting to inaugurate the Global Mercy™, African heads of state and ministers of health gathered to approve the Dakar Declaration and commit to accelerating access to safe, timely, and affordable surgery in Africa by 2030.

3. The blessing of the new and second hospital ship, the Global Mercy, took place on June 2, 2022 at the Port Automone in Dakar.

It was organized around three major events:

1. An international symposium on strengthening surgical, obstetric, and anaesthetic care systems by 2030 in Africa. This symposium brought together nearly 200 participants and took place in two stages between March and May 2022 in Dakar. A scientific meeting of experts from May 4-5, 2022 and a meeting of African Ministers of Health May 6, 2022 took place. The symposium was led by the Government of Senegal in collaboration with Mercy Ships, the World Health Organization Regional Office for Africa, and the African Colleges of Surgeons.

2. On May 30, 2022, following a ribbon cutting to inaugurate the Global Mercy™, African heads of state and ministers of health gathered to approve the Dakar Declaration and commit to accelerating access to safe, timely, and affordable surgery in Africa by 2030.

3. The blessing of the new and second hospital ship, the Global Mercy, took place on June 2, 2022 at the Port Automone in Dakar.

“We have eight years to make surgical healthcare in Africa better than before. Let’s make this vision happen.”

Dr. Pierre M’Pelé, Mercy Ships Africa Bureau Director

“We have eight years to make surgical healthcare in Africa better than before. Let’s make this vision happen.”

Dr. Pierre M’Pelé, Mercy Ships Africa Bureau Director

Who We Are

Founded in 1978, Mercy Ships is a global faith-based charity that uses hospital ships and volunteer professionals to deliver free specialized surgical care and medical training to build the local healthcare systems with our host nations, focusing in Africa.

Medical Training

Mercy Ships offers free training designed to empower healthcare workers and strengthen local healthcare systems. Instruction is specific to the unique needs of our host nation and planned in collaboration with the National Ministry of Health.

How We Help

Mercy Ships comes alongside our host nation with volunteer professionals to address the immediate surgical needs of a nation, simultaneously training local healthcare workers, and collaboratively building healthcare infrastructure. This approach empowers our host’s sustainable progress and continued development.

Ask Us Anything

We are excited to share our story with you. We believe that a successful collaboration is based on mutual trust. By being transparent with local media and organizations and inviting them to learn more about our mission, we hope to build strong partnerships that will help us achieve our goals.

For this purpose, we have selected for you the most important facts and figures about Mercy Ships.

If you have any questions, please contact us using this form. Our team will get back to you as soon as possible.

 Get in Touch

  • This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.

Please be aware, we’re not taking any referrals through this form. Referrals through messages or email will not be received. Any other message we will try to respond to ASAP.

Ask Us Anything

We are excited to share our story with you. We believe that a successful collaboration is based on mutual trust. By being transparent with local media and organizations and inviting them to learn more about our mission, we hope to build strong partnerships that will help us achieve our goals.

For this purpose, we have selected for you the most important facts and figures about Mercy Ships.

If you have any questions, please contact us using this form. Our team will get back to you as soon as possible.

 Get in Touch

  • This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.

Please be aware, we’re not taking any referrals through this form. Referrals through messages or email will not be received. Any other message we will try to respond to ASAP.

Who We Are

Founded in 1978, Mercy Ships is a global faith-based charity that uses hospital ships and volunteer professionals to deliver free specialized surgical care and medical training to build the local healthcare systems with our host nations, focusing in Africa.

Medical Training

Mercy Ships offers free training designed to empower healthcare workers and strengthen local healthcare systems. Instruction is specific to the unique needs of our host nation and planned in collaboration with the National Ministry of Health.

How We Help

Mercy Ships comes alongside our host nation with volunteer professionals to address the immediate surgical needs of a nation, simultaneously training local healthcare workers, and collaboratively building healthcare infrastructure. This approach empowers our host’s sustainable progress and continued development.

We’d Love to Hear from You

Join us as we seek to change access to safe surgical, obstetric and anaesthetic care across Africa.

  • This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.

We’d Love to Hear from You

Join us as we seek to change access to safe surgical, obstetric and anaesthetic care across Africa.

  • This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.