According to the World Health Organization (WHO), an estimated 195,000 deaths each year are caused by burns, with the vast majority occurring in low- and middle-income countries. Many people in Africa cook with open fires, boiling water, and oil in open air. People, often children, are severely burned in accidents involving these fires, resulting in scarring that reduces the mobility of limbs. Many cases of severe burns require skin transplants to release burn contractures and restore range of motion.

Skilled Mercy Ships surgeons provide relief from pain and disfigurements through specialized surgical interventions like reconstructive plastic surgery.

In order to prepare for surgery, many patients are admitted to the hospital days before their procedures. The surgery is performed under general or local anesthesia in an operating room on board one of our hospital ships. Following a brief stay in the post-anesthesia care unit, recovering patients transfer to the inpatient ward. During the post-operative period, nurses closely monitor patients to ensure stable vital signs, and manage their recovery and follow-up, including the transition to outpatient care.