Senegal - Mercy Ships Africa

COVID-19 Update 01 June 2020

Mercy Ships and Senegal

Mercy Ships is committed to continuing our longstanding partnership with the Government of Senegal. We are thankful to have returned for a historic field service in 2023, serving two countries from one port for the first time with the newly built Global Mercy™. While the hospital ship was docked in Dakar from February to July, the lives of 736 patients from Senegal and The Gambia were transformed by surgery. More than 750 healthcare professionals received mentorship and training.

Mercy Ships has partnered with Senegal for an unprecedented three field services since 2019, working together with the Ministry of Health to bring hope and healing to those in need.

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IN PARTNERSHIP WITH

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Partnerships are vital building blocks of effective universal healthcare systems

PRESS RELEASE

Sub-Saharan Africa has an especially urgent need to strengthen surgical care systems. Surgery has long been a neglected component of health care for people on the African continent, and equitable integration of surgical and anaesthetic care remains the key challenge to strengthening health systems and achieving universal health coverage in Africa. If we get this right, we can greatly reduce the rate of mortality and morbidity from surgically preventable and treatable conditions on the continent.

**Meet Amadou, the First Patient to Receive Surgery on the Global Mercy®**

BLOG

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.

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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.

**The Africa Mercy returns to Dakar to resume surgery**

PRESS RELEASE

DAKAR SENEGAL, 2 February 2022 – The President of the Republic of Senegal, His Excellency Mr Macky SALL is pleased to announce that the Africa Mercy has returned as promised to continue the surgical operations and training that were interrupted in March 2020 by the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. The ship’s presence is expected to last until November 2022.

The Africa Mercy arriving in the Port of Dakar, Senegal.

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First patient received aboard Mercy Ships after historic return to Africa

PRESS RELEASE
DAKAR, SENEGAL, 24 February 2022 – The first patient to undergo surgical treatment on Africa Mercy since its return to Africa has been welcomed aboard. Docked in the autonomous port of Dakar since February 1st this floating hospital has resumed its original mission to provide free surgeries and medical training on the continent after a 22-month pause caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.

IN PARTNERSHIP WITH

Partnerships are vital building blocks of effective universal healthcare systems

PRESS RELEASE

Sub-Saharan Africa has an especially urgent need to strengthen surgical care systems. Surgery has long been a neglected component of health care for people on the African continent, and equitable integration of surgical and anaesthetic care remains the key challenge to strengthening health systems and achieving universal health coverage in Africa. If we get this right, we can greatly reduce the rate of mortality and morbidity from surgically preventable and treatable conditions on the continent.

**Meet Amadou, the First Patient to Receive Surgery on the Global Mercy®**

BLOG

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.

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.

**The Africa Mercy returns to Dakar to resume surgery**

PRESS RELEASE

DAKAR SENEGAL, 2 February 2022 – The President of the Republic of Senegal, His Excellency Mr Macky SALL is pleased to announce that the Africa Mercy has returned as promised to continue the surgical operations and training that were interrupted in March 2020 by the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. The ship’s presence is expected to last until November 2022.

First patient received aboard Mercy Ships after historic return to Africa

PRESS RELEASE
DAKAR, SENEGAL, 24 February 2022 – The first patient to undergo surgical treatment on Africa Mercy since its return to Africa has been welcomed aboard. Docked in the autonomous port of Dakar since February 1st this floating hospital has resumed its original mission to provide free surgeries and medical training on the continent after a 22-month pause caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Our partnership with Senegal

Mercy Ships is an international charity that uses hospital ships to bring hope and healing to nations who are building stronger healthcare systems.

Our collaboration with Senegal focuses on coming alongside the country and supporting the healthcare aspect of its existing “Emerging Senegal” strategy.

The volunteer professionals of Mercy Ships are honored to partner with Senegal’s Ministry of Health to offer immediate surgical intervention while also striving to provide lasting impact by strengthening healthcare systems on the ground.

All Mercy Ships surgical and training services are thanks to the close collaboration of Senegal’s Ministry of Health.

Mercy Ships is an international charity that uses hospital ships to bring hope and healing to nations who are building stronger healthcare systems.

Our collaboration with Senegal focuses on coming alongside the country and supporting the healthcare aspect of its existing “Emerging Senegal” strategy.

The volunteer professionals of Mercy Ships are honored to partner with Senegal’s Ministry of Health to offer immediate surgical intervention while also striving to provide lasting impact by strengthening healthcare systems on the ground.

All Mercy Ships surgical and training services are thanks to the close collaboration of Senegal’s Ministry of Health.

Senegal Population (as of 2021)
16,876,720 people live in Senegal.
Availability of Healthcare
According to the most recent World Bank statistics (2019), there are 0.1 physicians per 1,000 people in Senegal. And, as of 2008 (the most recent study), there are 0.3 hospital beds available per 1,000 people.
Field Service 2023
From February to July 2023, Mercy Ships served patients from both Senegal and The Gambia on board the Global Mercy in the port in Dakar. This is the fourth time Mercy Ships has visited Senegal. Previous field services were conducted there on board the Anastasis in 1993, the Africa Mercy in 2019, and both the Africa Mercy and the Global Mercy in 2022. Each time, patients from all 14 regions of Senegal received care.

In partnership with Senegal’s Ministry of Health, over the course of these field services, volunteer professionals performed a total of over life-changing surgeries on board, treated over dental patients at a land-based dental clinic outside of the Dakar area, and provided training to over healthcare professionals through one-on-one mentoring and internationally recognized courses.

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

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

Aug 2019

Arrival
The Africa Mercy arrived in the Port of Dakar.
Aug 2019 - Mar 2020
Field Service
Mercy Ships partnered with the Senegal to provide over 1,400 free surgeries and train over 1,200 local healthcare professionals.

Aug 2019 - Mar 2020
Apr 2020

Departure due to COVID-19
Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Africa Mercy ceased operations onboard and departed Senegal as soon as it was safe to do so for all patients, crew, and day crew.
Apr 2020 - ???
Maintenance
The Africa Mercy undergoes annual maintenance and prepares for her return to Senegal.

Apr 2020 - ???
??? 2021

Anticipated Return
Mercy Ships plans on returning as soon as is feasible.

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

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Email
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

Name*
First Last
Email*
Company/Organization*
Country*
Subject*
Message*
CAPTCHA
Phone
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.

Mercy Ships and Senegal

IN PARTNERSHIP WITH

IN PARTNERSHIP WITH

Our partnership with Senegal

Our partnership with Senegal

Who We Are

Medical Training

How We Help

Who We Are

Medical Training

How We Help

Aug 2019

Aug 2019 - Mar 2020

Aug 2019 - Mar 2020

Apr 2020

Apr 2020 - ???

Apr 2020 - ???

??? 2021

Ask Us Anything

Get in Touch

Ask Us Anything

Get in Touch

Africa Service Center (ASC)

Africa Service Center (ASC)

Africa Service Center (ASC)

Africa Service Center (ASC)