Marion was born with an umbilical hernia; a condition that had grown more severe over time. She lost her mother when she was just a baby, and soon after, her father left. That’s when her aunt Helen stepped in and took custody of her. “She is like my own daughter, and I want the best for her,” Helen said.
Freetown, SIERRA LEONE – August 13, 2025: The Global Mercy™, the world’s largest civilian hospital ship, docked once again in Freetown marking the start of its third consecutive field service in Sierra Leone. Operated by the international NGO Mercy Ships, the vessel’s return deepens its partnership with the Government of Sierra Leone to strengthen the country’s healthcare system and expand access to safe, free surgeries.
A landmark moment for dental education and access to oral healthcare in Senegal was celebrated this weekend at the Department of Dentistry of Cheikh Anta Diop University (UCAD) in Dakar. Mercy Ships (www.Mercyships.org), in partnership with the Institute of Odontology and Stomatology (IOS), the Ministry of Health and Social Action, and other key stakeholders, inaugurated a brand-new dental clinic and officially laid the foundation stone for a new dental training center, two major projects aimed at transforming dental training and care in Senegal.
A young boy receives life-changing surgery from charity repairing cleft lips and restoring dignity for patients often stigmatized.
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.