Surgeries Begin in Dakar!

On September 10th, the first patients of the Mercy Ships 2019-20 field service walked up the gangway and were admitted to the hospital wards in Dakar, Senegal!

The first patient admitted for surgery was little Saliou, who was born with a cleft lip. Thanks to generous Mercy Ships partners and dedicated volunteers, Saliou received the free surgery he needed through the Maxillofacial Program. With attentive post operative care, he is now recovering onboard the Africa Mercy, before heading home with a renewed future.

Saliou is only one of thousands of patients who will receive a free, life-transforming surgery onboard the Africa Mercy this year in Senegal. Serving in Dakar from August 2019 to June 2020, Mercy Ships hopes to provide 1,200 to 1,700 life-transforming surgeries onboard the Africa Mercy, treat over 4,000 people at a land-based clinic, and provide training to hundreds of local healthcare professionals. All of this will be provided at no cost to the recipients, and will help to improve the overall healthcare system in Senegal.

Click here to learn more about the 2019-20 field service in Senegal