RESPONDING to an invitation from President Julius Maada Bio, Mercy Ships has once again joined forces with the government of Sierra Leone, with the arrival of their state-of-the-art hospital ship, the Global Mercy™. This collaboration, marking the sixth instance of partnership between Mercy Ships and Sierra Leone, aims to provide free specialised surgeries and healthcare training to the local population.
The Global Mercy™, renowned as the world’s largest non-governmental hospital ship, has officially docked at the Queen Elizabeth II Quay in Freetown. The vessel will remain stationed there for the next ten months, working in close partnership with Sierra Leone’s Ministry of Health. Through this partnership, Mercy Ships intends to deliver life-changing surgical interventions to Sierra Leoneans and offer targeted training to healthcare professionals, spanning from the ship’s arrival until June 2024.
Mercy Ships’ strategy for this mission has been meticulously aligned with Sierra Leone’s ongoing strategic healthcare plan. President Julius Maada Bio expressed his endorsement of this alliance, emphasising the shared vision of a robust healthcare system: ‘Today, as we welcome the hospital ship Global Mercy™ to our shores, we celebrate common objectives. This collaboration with Mercy Ships reflects our vision of a resilient healthcare system in Sierra Leone… Through this partnership, we fortify our progress towards a healthier nation and a brighter future for all.’
Gert van de Weerdhof, the CEO of Mercy Ships, shared his enthusiasm about this mission: ‘It’s very exciting to mark the beginning of our sixth field service in Sierra Leone… Now, in 2023, hope and healing will come anew as some 2,350 safe, free surgeries will be performed on board the Global Mercy™.’
The medical procedures to be conducted during this mission encompass a wide range of specialties, including tumour removal, cleft lip and palate correction, cataract removal, orthopaedics, and reconstructive plastics. To ensure efficient patient management, screening days have been organised to provide patients with appointments based on their specific surgical requirements. Already, patient selection teams have assessed individuals at eight locations, both in upcountry regions and the greater Freetown area, in anticipation of the ship’s arrival.
The collaboration between Mercy Ships and Sierra Leone extends beyond surgical interventions. In partnership with local and international organisations, Mercy Ships will facilitate education and training for over 200 local healthcare professionals. This training will focus on various aspects of the surgical ecosystem, including surgery, nursing, biomedical services, sterile processing, and anaesthesia. The ultimate goal of this multi-year initiative is to enhance Sierra Leone’s surgical care system by empowering its healthcare professionals, leaving a lasting impact on the nation’s healthcare landscape.
For the coming months, the Global Mercy™ will stand as a symbol of hope, healing, and international collaboration, as Mercy Ships and Sierra Leone continue their shared journey towards better healthcare access and improved medical capacities.