News

World Health Day: How Mercy Ships is Empowering Local Surgeons to Create a Healthier Future

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.

Young Girl Receives Life-Changing Surgery from Charity Restoring Movement After Severe Burns

News, Press release

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.

Sierra Leonean Physiotherapists Board the Global Mercy™ for Skills Enhancement

News

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.

Teenager Receives First Life-Changing Surgery as Hospital Ship Launches New Phase in Madagascar

Press release

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.

Venomous snake bite leaves arm unusable: boy waits seven years for life-changing surgery

Press release

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.

Hospital Ship Africa Mercy® Returns to Madagascar: A Joint Initiative to Strengthen Access to Surgical Care and Healthcare Training

Press release

Toamasina, MADAGASCAR, February 12, 2025 – With a strong focus on human capital development, the Ministry of Public Health, in partnership with the international humanitarian organization Mercy Ships, announced the arrival of the hospital ship Africa Mercy® in Toamasina today. This return marks a significant step in improving access to quality surgical care for the Malagasy population.

Hospital Ship Global Mercy™ to Stay in Sierra Leone until June 2026

Press release

FREETOWN, SIERRA LEONE, 30 JANUARY: The Ministry of Health of Sierra Leone and international charity Mercy Ships have reaffirmed their partnership, announcing that the Global Mercy™ hospital ship will remain in Freetown through June 2026.

Health System for Safe Surgical Care in Africa To Be Enhanced Through Partnership Between the African Union Development Agency and Mercy Ships

News, Press release

ABU DHABI, UNITED ARAB EMIRATES – During the 2024 World Policy Conference in Abu Dhabi in December, the African Union Development Agency–New Partnership for Africa’s Development (AUDA-NEPAD) and Mercy Ships announced a transformative partnership aimed at improving surgical care across Africa.

Mercy Ships 2024: A Year of Transformative Impact

Press release

In 2024, Mercy Ships delivered life-changing healthcare and training across sub-Saharan Africa, marking significant milestones in its mission to provide free surgical care and build capacity in local healthcare systems. Through its two hospital ships, the Global Mercy™ and the Africa Mercy®, the organization impacted thousands of lives by combining direct medical services with education, training, and advocacy programs by partnering with governments for lasting impact.