Antananarivo, 10 December 2024 - The Ministry of Public Health wishes to inform the population that the Africa Mercy hospital ship will temporarily leave Madagascar on 13 December 2024 for its annual maintenance, which is essential for the continuation of its humanitarian mission of excellence. The Africa Mercy’s presence in Madagascar is the result of a solid partnership between the Malagasy Government and international organisation Mercy Ships.

By the age of 10 years old, Fudia had grown accustomed to the daily struggles of walking with severe bowed legs, including the curious looks from people and the ridicule of children in her community. According to Joseph, Fudia’s uncle and guardian, she was born with the orthopedic condition. “We noticed it the very first day she was born; her legs were not normal,” he shared. In their hometown in Sierra Leone, it is believed that continuous massaging of the legs with warm water will straighten out the legs, but despite this care, Fudia’s legs only became more bowed as she grew.

In a landmark collaboration, the West African College of Surgeons (WACS) has granted an accreditation to Mercy Ships’ surgical and anaesthesia training programmes. This partnership reflects the shared commitment of both organisations towards advancing medical education in the region, offering medical trainees unparalleled opportunities to gain specialised qualifications through their experience aboard the international charity’s hospital vessels.