Surgery and medical programs in Africa
Mercy Ships operates hospital ships to provide more than 4,000 surgical procedures and 13,000 dental treatments each year to people without access to such care in developing countries.
Our expertise: surgery in West Africa
Since 1990, Mercy Ships has focused most of its humanitarian aid on the African continent. By deploying the largest civilian hospital ships in the world, the Africa Mercy and the Global Mercy, Mercy Ships works with host countries to help them improve their health systems.
Low density of hospitals, insufficient equipment, lack of specialists and high costs: for many people in sub-Saharan Africa, it is almost impossible to benefit from surgical treatment. Yet, without treatment, surgical disease, injury, or deformity can lead to premature death or lifelong disabilities. It is estimated that 18 million people die each year from conditions that could have been treated with surgery. The lack of surgical care thus claims more victims than tuberculosis, malaria and HIV/AIDS combined.
Discover Houley's story
Holistic care beyond surgical operations
Mercy Ships offers its patients more than just surgical care. Dental care teams, Ponseti clubfoot care teams, African chaplains and a palliative care team allow us to offer holistic and comprehensive help. After the operations on board our hospital ship, our patients benefit, if necessary, from physiotherapeutic follow-up in order to recover or regain full functional capacity. Physiotherapy takes place in one of the tents set up at the quay. For the duration of the rehabilitation process, the patients and their relatives are housed in the HOPE Center, the hospital’s onshore extension.
The HOPE Center
Patients living near the port can easily get to the ship, but others further afield often have to overcome significant obstacles. For example, they must be able to pay travel and accommodation costs, which prevents some patients from receiving the help they need. To enable patients to receive treatment despite these difficulties, Mercy Ships is setting up shore extensions of the on-board hospital, the HOPE Centers, in an easily accessible location near the ship. Some of the patients can be accommodated there, which saves them having to make multiple trips. In addition, it reduces the stress of traveling after an operation.
Before the date of the operation, patients arrive there and receive first aid, as well as healthy and nutritious food, intended to give them strength for the upcoming operation. For patients who have undergone surgery, a HOPE Center provides a protected and clean environment for rapid recovery. During the recovery phase, it is not always necessary to constantly go to a hospital ward, so postoperative care can be provided in the HOPE Center.
It also saves valuable bed space on the boat.
Direct medical services
Orthopedic programme
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 orthopaedic trauma and joint diseases. To help maintain correction, Mercy Ships provides physical therapy onboard and also trains local partners in how to manufacture braces.
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.
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.
Ophthalmic care
Our ophthalmic surgeons perform free cataract operations, restoring sight to the blind. Additionally, doctors correct pterygium, strabismus and eyelid deformities and replace painful or disfiguring blind eyes with prostheses. In addition, Mercy Ships trains local surgeons and healthcare professionals, building the capacity of the national eye care system.
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.
Gynecologic surgery
Support and medical care is provided for women who have suffered childbirth injuries. We provide extremely specialised surgery, continuing the recovery process through education and social activities.
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.
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.
Lives Changed: Our patients' stories
Story of Harimalala
At the age of 12, Harimalala’s life changes suddenly. What seemed like a simple sore throat turns out to be far more serious: a goiter begins to grow on her neck. An operation on board the Africa Mercy frees her from this mass.
Story of Marie Elisa
Following an unexpected encounter with our medical team in her village, Marie Elisa received a maxillofacial surgery on board the Africa Mercy. An inspiring story that reflects the courage and resilience of our patients.
Story of Fudia
The 10-year-old can now walk by herself without struggling and is set to resume school, with hopes for the future set high: “I want to be a doctor, so that I can help other people,” she shared.
Story of Lucy
In 2021, Lucy suddenly experienced unbearable tooth pain. Although the tooth eventually fell out, the pain persisted. Her face became swollen, and it was discovered to be a tumor. Unfortunately, the cost of medical treatment was beyond the family's financial means.
Story of Mamadou
Shortly before his first birthday, Mamadou's mother realized that he was having difficulty grasping objects and that he regularly stumbled. Mamadou suffers from cataracts.
Story of Naserry
Naserry, a little 5-year-old girl, stumbled into a fire and knocked over a boiling pot: suddenly her whole childhood was shattered.
