What Countries Does Mercy Ships Go To?
Mercy Ships goes to African countries and primarily focuses on the sub-Saharan region, where access to medical care is often extremely limited.
In total, the organization has been to 14 African countries. All the countries served by Mercy Ships are Togo, Ghana, Ivory Coast, Guinea (Conakry), Guinea-Bisseau, South Africa, Senegal, Benin, Gambia, Liberia, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Cameroon, Sierra Leone, and Madagascar.
Our hospital ships are currently serving the people of Sierra Leone (Global Mercy location) and Madagascar (Africa Mercy location). They both offer free surgeries as well as educational opportunities for the nation’s healthcare professionals.
Current Mercy Ships Countries 2025-2026
Sierra Leone
Mercy Ships has served in Sierra Leone 8 times. Since 2023, our crew and volunteers performed 3,630 surgeries and provided training for 290 healthcare professionals. Building on this strong foundation, the Global Mercy will continue serving in Freetown through June 2026, offering surgical care and medical training in close partnership with the Ministry of Health. This long-term commitment reflects Sierra Leone’s national healthcare priorities and our shared goal of expanding access to safe surgery and strengthening local healthcare systems.
Madagascar
Mercy Ships has been to Madagascar 5 times including our 2025 current field service. In 2024:
- Over 800 volunteers from 45 different nations
- Hundred of patients received surgeries across 6 surgical specialties
- More than 4,400 dental procedures
The Africa Mercy will complete its fifth humanitarian mission in December 2025.
What Countries Have Mercy Ships Been to in The Past?
Madagascar
The country has only 2 doctors per 10,000 inhabitants. Mercy Ships has been to Madagascar 5 times: 1996, 2014-2015, 2015-2016, 2024 and 2025.
Sierra Leone
The country counts only 0.4 doctors per 10,000 inhabitants. Mercy Ships has been to Sierra Leone 8 times, including our current field service: 1992-1993, 2001-2002, 2002-2003, 2003-2004, 2011, 2023-2024, 2024-2025 and 2025-2026.
Senegal
Mercy Ships has been to Senegal 4 times. The country counts only 1.3 doctors per 10,000 inhabitants. Past field services: 1993-1994, 2019-2020, 2022, 2023. During our 2023 mission, Mercy Ships offered free surgeries to the people of Senegal and the Gambia.
Guinea (Conakry)
Mercy Ships has been to Guinea 3 times. The country counts only 0.2 doctors per 10,000 inhabitants. Past field services: 1998-1999, 2012-2013, 2018-2019.
Guinea-Bissau
Mercy Ships has served the population of Guinea-Bissau in 1992. The country has only 2.1 doctors per 10,000 inhabitants.
Cameroon
Mercy Ships served the population of Cameroon in 2017-2018 for a ten months field service. The country has only 1.3 doctors per 10,000 inhabitants.
Benin
The country counts 2 doctors per 10,000 inhabitants. Mercy Ships has been to Benin 5 times: 1997-1998, 2000-2001, 2004-2005, 2009, and 2016-2017.
Democratic Republic of Congo
Mercy Ships has served the population of Congo in 2013-2014. The country has only 1.9 doctors per 10,000 inhabitants.
Togo
The country counts only 0.8 doctors per 10,000 inhabitants. Mercy Ships has been to Togo 5 times. Past field services: 1990-1991, 1995-1996, 2003, 2010, and 2012.
Liberia
Liberia counts only 1.8 doctors per 10,000 inhabitants. Mercy Ships has been to Liberia 5 times. Past field services: 2005, 2006, 2006-2007, 2007 and 2008.
Ghana
Ghana counts only 1.4 doctors per 10,000 inhabitants. Mercy Ships has been to Ghana 3 times. Past field services: 1991, 1995 and 2006-2007.
The Gambia
Mercy Ships has been to The Gambia 2 times in 2000 and 2002. The country counts only 1 doctor per 10,000 inhabitants. In 2023, Mercy Ships also served the people of the Gambia while the hospital ship was docked in Dakar, Senegal.
South Africa
Mercy Ships has been to South Africa 3 times in 1996-1997, 1999-2000 and in 2000. South Africa counts 8.1 doctor per 10,000 inhabitants.
Ivory Coast
Mercy Ships served the population of Ivory Coast in 1991-1992. The country has only 1.8 doctors per 10,000 inhabitants.
What Countries Have Mercy Ships Been to in The Past?
Madagascar
The country has only 2 doctors per 10,000 inhabitants. Mercy Ships has been to Madagascar 4 times: 1996, 2014-2015, 2015-2016 and 2024. We can't wait to start our 5th mission in this host country in 2025.
Senegal
Mercy Ships has been to Senegal 4 times. The country counts only 1.3 doctors per 10,000 inhabitants. Past field services: 1993-1994, 2019-2020, 2022, 2023. During our 2023 mission, Mercy Ships offered free surgeries to the people of Senegal and the Gambia.
Guinea (Conakry)
Mercy Ships has been to Guinea 3 times. The country counts only 0.2 doctors per 10,000 inhabitants. Past field services: 1998-1999, 2012-2013, 2018-2019.
Cameroon
Mercy Ships served the population of Cameroon in 2017-2018 for a ten months field service. The country has only 1.3 doctors per 10,000 inhabitants.
Benin
The country counts 2 doctors per 10,000 inhabitants. Mercy Ships has been to Benin 5 times: 1997-1998, 2000-2001, 2004-2005, 2009, and 2016-2017.
Democratic Republic of Congo
Mercy Ships has served the population of Congo in 2013-2014. The country has only 1.9 doctors per 10,000 inhabitants.
Togo
The country counts only 0.8 doctors per 10,000 inhabitants. Mercy Ships has been to Togo 5 times. Past field services: 1990-1991, 1995-1996, 2003, 2010, and 2012.
Ivory Coast
Mercy Ships served the population of Ivory Coast in 1991-1992. The country has only 1.8 doctors per 10,000 inhabitants.
Sierra Leone
The country counts only 0.4 doctors per 10,000 inhabitants. Mercy Ships has been to Sierra Leone 7 times, including our current field service: 1992-1993, 2001-2002, 2002-2003, 2003-2004, 2011, 2023-2024 and 2024 until 2025.
Liberia
Liberia counts only 1.8 doctors per 10,000 inhabitants. Mercy Ships has been to Liberia 5 times. Past field services: 2005, 2006, 2006-2007, 2007 and 2008.
Ghana
Ghana counts only 1.4 doctors per 10,000 inhabitants. Mercy Ships has been to Ghana 3 times. Past field services: 1991, 1995 and 2006-2007.
The Gambia
Mercy Ships has been to The Gambia 2 times in 2000 and 2002. The country counts only 1 doctor per 10,000 inhabitants. In 2023, Mercy Ships also served the people of the Gambia while the hospital ship was docked in Dakar, Senegal.
South Africa
Mercy Ships has been to South Africa 3 times in 1996-1997, 1999-2000 and in 2000. South Africa counts 8.1 doctor per 10,000 inhabitants.
Guinea-Bissau
Mercy Ships has served the population of Guinea-Bissau in 1992. The country has only 2.1 doctors per 10,000 inhabitants.
How Mercy Ships Chooses Locations?
Mercy Ships goes into a country at the invitation of the host nation and collaborates with national governments, health ministries, and local partners to identify countries with limited access to surgical and medical care. The organization also evaluates the potential for long-term impact by ensuring their programs align with the country's development goals, including capacity-building initiatives for local healthcare professionals. This approach ensures that the services provided contribute to sustainable healthcare improvements in the region.
CONCLUSION
Mercy Ships is committed to providing healthcare for all and is grateful for all the good work that was done in the African countries and for the upcoming missions.
Mercy Ships has been offering free healthcare for over 45 years. Thanks to donors and volunteers, since 1978, the organization has been able to perform more than 119,400 surgeries, carry out more than 547,600 dental procedures and train over 55,800 professionals in their area of expertise. Thank you!
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