In Sierra Leone, beyond our ship, there’s another side to the story in our Education, Training, and Advocacy (ETA) department. A team of passionate professionals are working hard to build something lasting, long after the Global Mercy departs the port of Freetown.
Now 12 years old, David’s journey began in the quiet village of Sama Nywalinga, nestled at the end of a long, dusty road, 120 miles from Sierra Leone’s second-largest town of Bo. His world changed forever when, at just a year old, a boiling pot of water spilled on him in a tragic accident.
CASABLANCA, Morocco, July 11, 2025 — What began as a dream two years ago has now become a reality in Casablanca, Morocco. On July 11 and 12, 2025, representatives from 24 nations across the continent gathered at Université Mohammed VI des Sciences de la Santé (UM6SS) for the inaugural African Dental Education Symposium, which culminated in the creation of the groundbreaking African Education Dental Association (AEDA).
In a quiet room inside Freetown’s Connaught Hospital, nurse mentor Katie Henderson is leading a training session with a small group of nurses. It’s not just another training; it’s the steady unfolding of a long-term vision: building up Sierra Leone’s nursing workforce through partnership, mentorship, and hands-on education.
FREETOWN, SIERRA LEONE – JUNE 16: In partnership with the Sierra Leonean Ministry of Health, international charity Mercy Ships is preparing for the next phase of its ongoing mission to deliver free, life-changing surgeries and training for healthcare professionals. This new phase is scheduled to begin in August.
At a pivotal World Health Assembly (WHA) side event in Geneva, the non-governmental organizations Mercy Ships and Operation Smile commemorated a decade of leadership in global efforts to improve access to equitable surgical care. This event brought together global leaders, health ministers, and experts to celebrate progress, and confront the urgent challenges that remain in delivering safe, affordable surgical care to all.
TOAMASINA, MADAGASCAR, JUNE 2: A young woman whose sore throat became a life-threatening growth in her neck, leaving her struggling to breathe, has had it removed for free by surgeon volunteers from international charity Mercy Ships.
Few individuals embody the spirit of selfless service like Dr. Leo Cheng, a world-renowned surgeon specializing in oral, maxillofacial/head & neck surgery. A man of immense skill and deep compassion, Dr. Cheng has dedicated his life not only to his medical practice in the United Kingdom, but also to providing free, life-changing surgeries for the world’s most vulnerable populations through his work with Mercy Ships.
Driven by compassion and determination, nurse Betty Koker is transforming patient care in Sierra Leone — showing how mentorship and local leadership are building a stronger healthcare system.
SAVANNAH, GEORGIA, MAY 9, 2025: A surgeon who has dedicated nearly 40 years to providing free, life-changing surgeries to African patients has been honored internationally for his remarkable service.