The world’s largest purpose-built civilian hospital ship, the Global Mercy®, is projected to serve 150,000 patients over the next five decades – and it all begins with Amadou, a 4-year-old with a windswept leg and bowed leg from southern Senegal. With an orthopedic surgery on March 6, Amadou was the first patient to ever receive surgery on board the new ship. 

His Excellency, President Macky Sall to Welcome Heads of State to Dakar to accelerate access to safe surgical, obstetric and anesthetic care in Africa by 2030. Invited delegations set to approve a Dakar Declaration to expedite improvements in surgical care for their nations as part of inaugural ceremonies on board the world’s largest civilian purpose-built hospital ship, Global Mercy™

For more than 30 years, Mercy Ships has been invited to multiple countries on the continent and worked side by side with many different African people. On Africa Day, we want to thank these nations and people for their hospitality, partnership, and friendship. We also want to take the opportunity to share what Africa Day  is really about. Mercy Ships Africa Bureau Director Dr. Pierre M’Pelé, originally from the Congo, brings a unique perspective to the table. Hear what Africa Day means to him and why we should celebrate in our Q&A below.