Population
8,342,084 people live in Sierra Leone.
Mercy Ships and Sierra Leone
Thanks to an invitation from President Julius Maada Bio and the government of Sierra Leone, the Global Mercy™ arrived in the Port of Freetown in August 2023 to begin a 10-month field service. Mercy Ships was then invited to extend the hospital ship’s stay in Sierra Leone to continue bringing life-changing hope and healing in partnership with the Ministry of Health. Following a short maintenance period in June, the Global Mercy returned to Freetown and resumed its operations in August 2024. The continuation of its mission offers free surgeries across various specialties, including maxillofacial/head and neck, general, pediatric orthopedics, reconstructive plastics, and ophthalmic procedures.
In collaboration with the Ministry of Health, Mercy Ships has continued to select patients in 12 locations across the country to receive surgery this field service.
Between August 2023 and June 2024, Mercy Ships provided life-changing surgeries for 1,728 patients on board the Global Mercy, while working closely with national partners to strengthen Sierra Leone’s surgical and anesthetic systems. A total of 145 healthcare professionals came on board the ship for a variety of training opportunities, including surgical residences, OR/Ward Nurse mentoring, and Physiotherapist mentoring. During its extended stay, the Mercy Ships team will continue to work in collaboration with the leadership of Sierra Leone and alongside partners like Connaught Hospital in Freetown, the Pan-African Academy of Christian Surgeons, and the West African College of Surgeons. Mercy Ships expects to deliver an additional 1,400 life-transforming surgeries during this field service, and continues to offer training opportunities for Sierra Leonean healthcare workers.
“The hospital ship will serve as a platform for training our healthcare professionals to build capacity. Programs will ensure that the positive impact of Mercy Ships will continue long after the ship leaves the shores of Sierra Leone. This partnership will support our vision to ensure a functional national health system delivering efficient, high-quality healthcare services that are accessible, equitable and affordable for all,” said His Excellency, President Julius Maada Bio.
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Western Area Urban
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Western Area Rural
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Port Loko
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Kambia
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Karene
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Bombali
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Koinadugu
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Falaba
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Kono
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Kailahun
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Kenema
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Tonkolili
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Bo
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Pujehun
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Bonthe
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Moyamba
“This long-lasting partnership paves the way for Mercy Ships to continue to engage closely with the government of Sierra Leone and to strengthen our joint commitment to improving access to safe surgical care,” said Dr. Sandra Lako, Country Director for Mercy Ships in Sierra Leone.
In March 2024, the West African College of Surgeons (WACS) hosted their 64th conference in Freetown, where renowned surgeons and medical experts gathered to discuss how to tangibly accelerate surgical care and education. Mercy Ships was honored to participate in the conference and, together with many partners, celebrate the progress that’s been made and look ahead to advancing surgical excellence and healthcare in the future.
Mercy Ships and Sierra Leone
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Western Area Urban
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Western Area Rural
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Port Loko
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Kambia
5
Karene
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Bombali
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Koinadugu
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Falaba
9
Kono
10
Kailahun
11
Kenema
12
Tonkolili
13
Bo
14
Pujehun
15
Bonthe
16
Moyamba
Thanks to an invitation from the government of Sierra Leone, Mercy Ships arrived in the Port of Freetown in August 2023 to begin a 10-month field service. This marks the sixth time Mercy Ships has visited Sierra Leone – and the first visit for its newest hospital ship, the Global Mercy™!
During this field service, Mercy Ships anticipates providing more than 2,350 surgeries while also working closely with national partners to strengthen Sierra Leone’s surgical and anesthetic systems. More than 200 healthcare professionals will receive in-depth training and mentorship across areas like nurse anesthesia, biomedical technology, and ophthalmology. The Mercy Ships team works in collaboration with the leadership of Sierra Leone, alongside partners like Connaught Hospital in Freetown, the Pan-African Academy of Christian Surgeons, and the West African College of Surgeons.
“The hospital ship will serve as a platform for training our healthcare professionals to build capacity. Programs will ensure that the positive impact of Mercy Ships will continue long after the ship leaves the shores of Sierra Leone. This partnership will support our vision to ensure a functional national health system delivering efficient, high-quality healthcare services that are accessible, equitable and affordable for all,” said His Excellency, President Julius Maada Bio.
“This long-lasting partnership paves the way for Mercy Ships to continue to engage closely with the government of Sierra Leone and to strengthen our joint commitment to improving access to safe surgical care,” said Dr. Sandra Lako, Country Director for Mercy Ships in Sierra Leone.
Sierra Leone
We are very excited to return to lovely Sierra Leone in 2023!
Mercy Ships is a global charity that uses hospital ships to bring hope and healing to nations as they build up their own stronger healthcare systems.
The volunteer professionals of Mercy Ships have been honored to partner with Sierra Leone’s Ministry of Health in the past by offering immediate surgical intervention on board the Africa Mercy and sharing training and resources to build Sierra Leone’s own capacity. We look forward to continuing this partnership with the visit of the Global Mercy.
All of Mercy Ships services are offered in Sierra Leone at no cost.
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.
Medical Training
Mercy Ships offers education and training projects to help strengthen the standards of surgical care in communities of the countries we serve, leaving a lasting impact. Specialized training is provided to local healthcare professionals in techniques and procedures appropriate to their environment.
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.
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.
Medical Training
Mercy Ships offers education and training projects to help strengthen the standards of surgical care in communities of the countries we serve, leaving a lasting impact. Specialized training is provided to local healthcare professionals in techniques and procedures appropriate to their environment.
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.
FAQs
When is Mercy Ships coming to Liberia?
The Africa Mercy will be arriving in the middle of August 2020 and will stay for a 10 month field service.
How do I register a patient?
Registration will begin several months before the arrival of the ship and will be communicated locally and on this website.
I want to work with Mercy Ships. How can I do this?
We will be needing many people to help as translators, extra hands, and partners during this time. There is much more information on this page about this.
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.
Get in Touch
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.
Get in Touch
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.
We’d Love to Hear from You
Join us as we seek to change access to safe surgical, obstetric and anaesthetic care across Africa.
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.