Canadian Direct Surgical Services & Medical Equipment

Your investment in direct surgical services and medical equipment can help make a positive social impact and contribute to sustainable development goals for reducing inequalities and promoting good health, well-being, decent work, and economic growth. Five billion people lack access to timely, affordable, safe surgical and anesthetic care. Unmet surgical demand affects predominantly low-income and middle-income countries (LMICs). Mercy Ships provides surgical care needed to prevent and treat conditions related to maternal and child health, non-communicable diseases, and trauma using modern medical equipment essential to reducing mortality and morbidity at all life stages.

Mercy Ships Canada volunteer crew preoperative, operating room, PACU and ward nurses, anesthesists, physicians, and other professionals are part of an international team addressing healthcare disparity by providing holistic free surgical care in Africa that empowers patients and helps renew hope for families and communities. Learn more about our eight areas of surgical focus below.

Dental Hospitainer

The project aims to provide equipment, specifically a dental hospitainer for the Africa Mercy hospital ship. While operational, the dental hospitainer will be used by Mercy Ships in multiple countries as the volunteers and the hospital ship conduct their field service activities.

Digital X-Ray Detectors & Transport Stretchers Project

This project will provide radiology equipment, specifically digital X-ray detectors for the hospital ships the Africa Mercy and Global Mercy, and patient transport stretchers for the Africa Mercy.

X-ray & OPG

The purpose of the project is to provide radiology equipment, specifically an X-ray and OPG (Orthopantomogram) unit, for the hospital ship the Africa Mercy.

YAG Laser Eye

Provide the Global Mercy with one installed, tested and functioning Nidek YC-1800 YAG Eye Laser and stand, observation scope with beam splitter and pelican case.

Mercy Ships Canada’s Humanitarian Work at a Glance

Hospital Ship Medical Services to Patients and Their Families

Women’s Health

Support and medical care is provided for women who have suffered childbirth injuries. We provide extremely specialized surgery, continuing the recovery process through education and social activities.

Maxillofacial Surgery

Through corrective and reconstructive maxillofacial surgeries, our surgeons relieve deformities caused by physical conditions such as tumours, cleft lip, cleft palate and noma.

Plastic Reconstructive Surgery

Birth defects, burns and illness often cause deformities we correct through surgeries; including burn-scar contractures, benign tumours, chronic ulcers, combined fingers and many others.

Orthopaedic Program

Mercy Ships trains local surgeons in Ponseti casting, the “universal standard” in non-invasive clubfoot correction, and provides free surgical intervention for musculoskeletal conditions, neglected orthopedic trauma and joint diseases.

Palliative Care

Palliative care is an approach that improves the quality of life of patients and their families facing the difficulties associated with life-threatening illness.

General Surgery

Our surgeons reduce the effects of neglected trauma, disease and congenital conditions by providing general surgeries for conditions such as hernias and goiters.

Dental/Oral Health

Mercy Ships aims to prevent and reduce the effects of a lack of oral healthcare by providing dental treatment and dental hygiene education and training.

Eye Care

Addresses surgical and medical eye needs in environments where preventable blindness is widespread. The primary emphasis of surgical intervention is to reduce blindness as a result of cataracts.