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.
SIERRA LEONE, AFRICA – MAY 12, 2025: The compassionate care of a team of palliative care nurses from the United States and the Netherlands and two crew members from Sierra Leone are the first recipients of the Mercy Ships DAISY Team Award, a collaboration between international charity Mercy Ships and the DAISY Foundation™. The team serves on board the Global Mercy™ hospital ship currently docked in Sierra Leone, West Africa.
TOAMASINA, MADAGASCAR, MAY 5, 2025: A 14-year-old boy can finally wear shoes for the first time in his life after safe surgery from international charity Mercy Ships corrected severe burn injuries that left his foot fused to his ankle.
This year’s World Health Day theme, Healthy Beginnings, Hopeful Futures, highlights the urgent need to end preventable maternal and newborn deaths. Around 300,000 women die due to pregnancy and childbirth complications each year, while millions of babies are stillborn and two million die within their first month of life. The crisis is most severe in low-income countries, where access to safe surgery is often out of reach due to financial and systemic barriers.
TOAMASINA, MADAGASCAR APRIL 2, 2025: A nine-year-old girl can now reach for the stars after life-changing surgery from international charity Mercy Ships restored movement to her arms, years after severe burns at age two left them fused in place.
In a landmark moment for Sierra Leone’s healthcare system, the country’s first-ever cohort of physiotherapy graduates earned their Bachelor of Science (B.S) degrees in 2023. This achievement marked a significant step in addressing the critical shortage of rehabilitation professionals.
TOAMASINA, MADAGASCAR MARCH 12, 2025: A 16-year-old girl is now free from a growing tumor on her neck after becoming the first patient to undergo surgery with international charity Mercy Ships in Madagascar in 2025.
FREETOWN, SIEERA LEONE, FEBRUARY 20, 2025: An 11-year-old boy from Sierra Leone can finally go to school and use his right arm again after his severely deformed limb was operated on by international health charity, Mercy Ships.