Mercy Ships Announces
Next Field Service in Senegal
Mercy Ships is overjoyed to share that in early 2022, the Africa Mercy® will return to a beloved port – Dakar, Senegal. By invitation of Senegal’s government, led by President H.E. Macky Sall, Mercy Ships will continue this partnership and return to bring hope and healing to the people of Senegal.
Health and Safety During a New Season
During the early outbreak of the pandemic, Mercy Ships made the difficult decision to leave our field service in Senegal earlier than planned to protect those onboard and in-country. The decision to return for a new field service comes after much research, planning, and prayer. Mercy Ships is committed to making a safe return for all patients, caregivers, crew, visitors, and partners in Senegal.
What does this safe return look like?
Mercy Ships is following several policies and vaccination requirements, which will allow us to operate in a safe and responsible way while providing life transforming surgery to those who need it most. Some of these COVID-19 protocols onboard include:
- Following health and safety measures, including wearing face masks and social distancing, onboard our ship.
- Following the local Ministry of Health’s health and safety requirements.
- Requiring all volunteer crewmembers to be fully vaccinated.
- Requiring and assisting our day crew to be fully vaccinated.
- We are working with the Ministry of Health to provide vaccinations to patients and caregivers when possible.
“Mercy Ships is committed to ensuring we can return to Senegal in a COVID responsible way. Whilst we know all missions involve some degree of risk, there are multiple measures we have put in place to reduce that risk whilst still being able to bring hope and healing to the people of Senegal,” says Dr. Miriam John, Mercy Ships International Chief Medical Officer.
2022 is an incredibly special year for Mercy Ships in many ways. Not only is it the renewal of a field service in Senegal, but also the newest Mercy Ship, the Global Mercy®, will dock in an African port for the first time. In 2022, Mercy Ships will also celebrate 30 years of work and partnership in Africa.
In honor of this milestone occasion, Mercy Ships will participate in the International Symposium on Strengthening Surgical, Obstetric, and Anesthetic Care Systems in Africa by 2030. This symposium, organized in collaboration with the government of Senegal, will gather many current and future healthcare leaders together in a time to share and learn from each other.
During this time, the government of Senegal will also host an event with many African heads of state to commission the Global Mercy, our newest vessel – not just a floating hospital, but also a floating training center. We cannot think of a better way to start this new chapter together.
Mercy Ships Welcomes Presidential Visit on board, in Toamasina Harbor
Presidential Visit: Malagasy president His Excellency Andry Nirina Rajoelina visited patients and volunteers on board Mercy Ships’ hospital vessel to see for himself the lives being transformed.
Day of the Seafarer: One Maritime Volunteer’s Story
On this Day of the Seafarer, Mercy Ships wants to honor all the people like Ishaka, volunteer assistant bosun on board the Global Mercy.
An Electrician’s Journey to Finding Purpose and Professional Growth
When Jean Jacques Diouf came on board for the 1st time, he’d packed his suitcase with enough supplies for one week. Learn more about his professional growth!
THE MSC FOUNDATION, THE MSC GROUP AND MERCY SHIPS INTERNATIONAL JOIN FORCES TO BUILD A NEW HOSPITAL SHIP
The new purpose-built hospital ship will expand the impact of Mercy Ships’ life-changing surgeries, anaesthetic care and surgical education for future generations of patients and healthcare professionals in sub-Saharan Africa.
The Woman Who Forged Her Way Through Walls: Florence Bangura’s Story
Florence’s journey from oldest to newest Mercy Ship came full circle when she met the Global Mercy™ in 2023, the same year that the purpose-built hospital ship began welcoming its patients on board. Today, you can find Florence, now 49 years old, down in the engine room as a hotel engineering assistant.
Transforming Sierra Leone’s Healthcare: A Vision for Safe and Affordable Surgery
As experts from the surgical and healthcare world gather for the 64th Annual Conference and Scientific Meeting of the West African College of Surgeons in Sierra Leone this week, a profound dedication to advancing surgical knowledge and practice in the region is palpable. At the forefront of discussions lies the conference’s pivotal theme: access to safe and affordable surgical and anesthetic care in West Africa. This theme highlights the pressing need to address disparities in healthcare capabilities and capacities across the region, especially the critical importance of equitable access to quality surgical interventions.
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