Mercy Ships and The Gambia

In 2023, the newly built Mercy Ship, the Global Mercy™, welcomed her very first patients on board. One of them was a 4-year-old boy from The Gambia, who needed an operation to straighten his knocked knees. His historic surgery was part of a momentous field service. For the first time, a Mercy Ships hospital vessel set out to serve two nations from one port. The Global Mercy docked in Dakar, and provided surgeries for patients from both The Gambia and Senegal. Healthcare workers from both countries also participated in trainings. In total during the five-month field service, 79 patients from The Gambia underwent life-transforming surgery, and 149 healthcare professionals received new skills to utilize in their work.

Mercy Ships and The Gambia

In 2023, the newly built Mercy Ship, the Global Mercy™, welcomed her very first patients on board. One of them was a 4-year-old boy from The Gambia, who needed an operation to straighten his knocked knees. His historic surgery was part of a momentous field service. For the first time, a Mercy Ships hospital vessel set out to serve two nations from one port. The Global Mercy docked in Dakar, and provided surgeries for patients from both The Gambia and Senegal. Healthcare workers from both countries also participated in trainings. In total during the five-month field service, 79 patients from The Gambia underwent life-transforming surgery, and 149 healthcare professionals received new skills to utilize in their work.

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  • Hover over to see the different divisions of The Gambia
  • Zoom in and click to see the different divisions of The Gambia

Over two decades before this 2023 field service, Mercy Ships had the honor of visiting The Gambia twice – first in 2000 and again two years later in 2002. During these visits, The Gambia’s government and Ministry of Health invited Mercy Ships to collaborate in running several projects aimed at strengthening local healthcare systems, as well as providing free surgery to people in need of hope and healing.

Unleashing the Power of Partnerships to Transform Healthcare in Africa 

NEWS

In the realm of medicine, there are pivotal moments that can forever change lives. For me, that transformative moment occurred two decades ago when my path intersected with medical mission teams in our country, including Mercy Ships, an organisation committed to delivering life-changing surgeries to those who need it most. Witnessing their surgical interventions and the profound impact on people’s lives ignited my passion to become a surgeon. I realised that the human body’s needs transcend borders and the Gambian people deserved access to quality surgical care.

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One Port, Two Nations: The Global Mercy™ Arrives in Dakar

BLOG

On February 14, a special day of celebration took place in the Port of Dakar, Senegal. A long-awaited sight was on the horizon as the newly built Mercy Ship, the Global Mercy™, sailed into view. Designed to deliver hope and healing to nations with limited surgical capacity, the Global Mercy is now ready to live her purpose. This year marks the first in an expected 50-year lifespan of specialized free surgeries taking place on board.

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1,962

Professionals trained

16,489

Dental procedures

1,957

Surgeries

Benin’s First Reconstructive Plastic Surgeon

In West Africa, it’s rare that medical professionals have the opportunity to gain advanced training, practice on the newest technology, and liaise with experts in their field – it’s one reason so many doctors leave for Europe, Australia, or the States. “It’s not that it’s hard to keep your skills updated here,” comments Amy Jones, Project Manager for the Mercy Ships Medical Capacity Building (MCB) Team, “It’s impossible.”

But for Benin’s first reconstructive plastic surgeon, Dr. Odry Agbessi, staying in Benin is a must – surgeons may leave, but patients cannot. Though faced with numerous obstacles, Dr. Odry’s dedication to helping her people pushes her onward.

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Benin’s First Reconstructive Plastic Surgeon

In West Africa, it’s rare that medical professionals have the opportunity to gain advanced training, practice on the newest technology, and liaise with experts in their field – it’s one reason so many doctors leave for Europe, Australia, or the States. “It’s not that it’s hard to keep your skills updated here,” comments Amy Jones, Project Manager for the Mercy Ships Medical Capacity Building (MCB) Team, “It’s impossible.”

But for Benin’s first reconstructive plastic surgeon, Dr. Odry Agbessi, staying in Benin is a must – surgeons may leave, but patients cannot. Though faced with numerous obstacles, Dr. Odry’s dedication to helping her people pushes her onward.

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Partnership for Health

Partnership for Health

As well as delivering direct medical interventions on the ground in Benin, Mercy Ships worked hard to equip local medical staff with the knowledge and facilities needed to continue the work after the Africa Mercy left Cotonou.

Mercy Ships met that goal by providing:

  • High-quality and internationally recognized medical training programs and one-on-one mentoring opportunities
  • Support and feedback for the government on programs such as the World Health Organization (WHO) Surgical Safety Checklist
  • Data collection for use in research and impact evaluation

  • Mentoring

    88 local professionals participated in our mentoring programs.

  • Training

    1,874 people participated in our various courses to further their skills in their area of expertise.

  • Lasting Impact

    Mercy Ships has developed practical and relevant capacity-building projects that demonstrate and impart knowledge, skills, and a compassionate, professional attitude to each participant.

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.

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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.

Learn More

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.

Learn More

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.

Learn More

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.

Learn More

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.

Learn More

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.

Download our Press Pack

 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.

Download our Press Pack

 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.

Contact Us
News
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Africa Service Center (ASC)

Rue Thann, Immeuble Sea View,

Appartement 3ème étage à droite,

Dakar, SENEGAL

Africa Service Center (ASC)

Rue Thann, Immeuble Sea View,

Appartement 3ème étage à droite,

Dakar, SENEGAL

Tel: +221782967104 /776447017

africa@mercyships.org

© 2024 – Mercy Ships

Terms and conditions

Contact Us
News
Press
Videos

Africa Service Center (ASC)

Rue Thann, Immeuble Sea View,

Appartement 3ème étage à droite,

Dakar, SENEGAL

Africa Service Center (ASC)

Rue Thann, Immeuble Sea View,

Appartement 3ème étage à droite,

Dakar, SENEGAL

Tel: +221782967104 /776447017
africa@mercyships.org

© 2023 – Mercy Ships

Terms and conditions