Press Room

Welcome to the Mercy Ships Press Room.

Mercy Ships is a story that is worth sharing! Thousands of lives are transformed through free surgery is an empowering message of hope. While Mercy Ships takes care of those in need, we invite you to give a voice to those who can’t speak for themselves. On this page you will find articles, photos, videos and coverage about our work.

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WACS

Ministry of Health and Mercy Ships Extend Stay of Hospital Ship in Sierra Leone to Provide Life-Changing Surgeries and Education

Ministry of Health and Mercy Ships Extend Stay of Hospital Ship in Sierra Leone to Provide Life-Changing Surgeries and Education

Freetown, SIERRA LEONE – Renowned surgeons and medical experts from across West Africa and beyond met in Freetown, Sierra Leone to propose ways of accelerating access to surgical care and education at the 64th Conference and Scientific Meeting of the West African College of Surgeons (WACS).   

February 27th, 2024 – The Ministry of Health, in collaboration with the renowned international charity Mercy Ships, proudly announces the extension of the Global Mercy’s stay in Sierra Leone. This affirms the commitment to addressing the surgical needs of the Sierra Leonean people and advancing healthcare education in the region.

Dr. Sherif Emil Operation

Montreal pediatric surgeon practices on land and at sea

Mission Madagascar

Hospital ship arrives in Madagascar to deliver surgical care and training 

Emmanuel

Father is first patient in Sierra Leone to receive life transforming surgery on board Mercy Ship

February 15th – From the Montreal Children’s Hospital to a hospital at sea, pediatric surgeon Dr. Sherif Emil is using his expertise to deliver healthcare for free. In March he’ll be off to West Africa to serve aboard the Global Mercy. The vessel has doubled in capacity to help pediatric patients’ most urgent surgical needs.

TOAMASINA, MADAGASCAR , FEBRUARY 2nd, 2024 – Freshly refitted hospital ship, the upgraded Africa Mercy® has arrived at the island nation to build on the charity’s longstanding collaboration and will provide specialized surgeries in various fields, including maxillofacial and ear nose and throat, general, pediatric specialized general, pediatric orthopedic, cataract surgery, and reconstructive plastics.  

FREETOWN, SIERRA LEONE, SEPTEMBER 13, 2023 – A 43-year-old man who feared he would have to live with a tumor on his face for life was the first patient to receive a lifechanging surgery on board the world’s largest civilian hospital ship, the Global Mercy yesterday (Sept 12th) in the Port of Freetown, following the ship’s recent arrival.

Senegal’s Minister of Health, Abdoulaye Diouf Sarr, is seen with Ministers of Health on the third day of the International Symposium hosted at the King Fahd Palace Hotel in Dakar, Sen, on Friday, May 6, 2022.

Safer Surgery by 2030: Medical Experts and Health Ministers Gather for Breakthrough Symposium in Senegal

Mercy Ships Canada Celebrates Corporate Social Responsibility Initiative

True North Marine (TNM) Helps Mercy Ships Plot a Course of Hope and Healing

Dr. Mark Shrime stands in the OR. © Mercy Ships

Teaching someone to fish: the false dichotomy of relief and development

Dakar, SENEGAL – 12 May 2022. Following a three-day International Symposium bringing together medical experts from 29 African countries, Ministers of Health from around Africa converged in an historic moment to draft a clear path towards wider and safer access to surgical care in Africa by 2030.

 

 

The Global Mercy was designed by Stena RoRo and, once in operation in 2022, will be the first purpose-built vessel operated by Mercy Ships and the largest civilian hospital ship in the world. Joining her sister ship, the Africa Mercy, the Global Mercy will extend the reach and impact of Mercy Ships for the next 50 years.

 

 

We often construct a similar dichotomy in global health, pitting relief against development, and assuming only one should happen. For many valid reasons, that one is development. It’s a reductionistic view of global health, and it can leave patients behind. Yes, systems must develop, for sure, but in the meantime, what happens to patients while they’re developing?


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Mercy Ships Photos

Canadian volunteer Riley Chow, Writer, with the Canadian flag
Amadou, the first patient on board the Global Mercy, and his caregiver
C ward of the Global Mercy
Operating Room of the Global Mercy
GLM and AFM
The Global Mercy & the Africa Mercy sailing together
The Global Mercy underway during sea trials
The Global Mercy
Seafarer's Story
The Africa Mercy
operation room before after
Before and after of operating room in Madagascar
Mark Carew
Captain Mark Carew from Halifax, Nova Scotia
Story of Erin
Canadian Erin Muyres, Medical Capacity Building Projects Director, with the view from the Global Mercy to the Africa Mercy in the background
Pierre
Before of Pierre - Cameroon
Pierre
After of Pierre - Cameroon
Kaltoumi
Before of Kaltoumi - Cameroon
Kaltoumi
After of Kaltoumi - Cameroon

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