Hospital Ship Africa Mercy Returns to Madagascar
February 14, 2025
A Joint Initiative to Strengthen Access to Surgical Care and Healthcare Training
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. This return marks a significant step in improving access to quality surgical care for the Malagasy population.
Over the next ten months, more than 1,375 free surgeries will be performed, along with around 1,480 dental procedures, benefiting the most vulnerable patients. At the same time, a continuous training program will enhance the skills of Malagasy healthcare professionals, contributing to long-term improvements in surgical and anesthetic care in the country.
Montreal-based Dr. Sherif Emil, Mercy Ships International’s new Chief Medical Officer, shared his thoughts on the mission, saying, “Mercy Ships is glad to return to Madagascar to continue to nurture its long-standing relationship with the Malagasy people, and to provide surgical care where it is needed most. We will build on what we accomplished together so far and continue to lay the foundation for a better future of surgical care for the nation.”
This strategic partnership between the Ministry of Public Health and Mercy Ships reaffirms the Malagasy government’s commitment to strengthening the country’s healthcare capacity, in alignment with the Sustainable Development Goals and the National Health Policy. The joint efforts of both teams have already enabled the selection of patients across 12 regions in Madagascar, ensuring an efficient and targeted response to the most urgent surgical needs.
The success of this field service has been made possible thanks to the strong support of Malagasy authorities, including the President of the Republic, the Ministry of Public Health, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and the Ministry of Economy and Finance. This initiative highlights the importance of public-private partnerships in improving healthcare services and strengthening the country’s surgical delivery.
The Africa Mercy provides free and safe surgical interventions in various specialties, including Maxillofacial surgery, Ophthalmic surgery, Reconstructive Plastic surgery, Pediatric Orthopedic surgery, and General surgery.
Beyond surgical care, Mercy Ships is committed to building local capacity by offering training in surgery, anesthesia, nursing, and dental care in collaboration with Malagasy universities. This knowledge transfer is essential to ensuring the progressive empowerment of Madagascar’s healthcare system.
Canadian Erin Ugai, Senior Director for Education, Training, and Advocacy, explains: “Mercy Ships is partnering with universities across Madagascar to support clinical training of their students and residents in surgery, anesthesia, nursing and dentistry through placements onboard the Africa Mercy and in collaboration with Mercy Ships Guinea. We are looking forward to developing our partnerships to invest more in the surgical and education systems in Madagascar in 2025.”
Since its first mission to Madagascar in 1996, Mercy Ships has performed more than 7,500 surgeries and provided 57,000 dental treatments. Additionally, over 2,500 healthcare professionals have received specialized training, significantly contributing to the country’s long-term surgical care capacity.
The return of the Africa Mercy is a testament to the Malagasy government’s dedication to ensuring access to quality healthcare for all. This partnership between the Ministry of Public Health and Mercy Ships aligns with the national vision for human capital development, which places healthcare at the heart of the country’s priorities.
With this new mission, Madagascar is taking another step toward enhancing its healthcare system and reducing health disparities, reaffirming that healthcare is a national priority and a pillar of sustainable development.
