After a brief maintenance period in Cádiz, Spain, the Global Mercy—the world’s largest civilian hospital ship—has
returned to Sierra Leone for a 10-month mission. During this time, Mercy Ships will continue partnering with national and local health authorities to deliver specialized surgical services and provide vital training for healthcare professionals.
Welcoming the ship for its third visit, Minister of Health and Sanitation, Dr. Austin Demby, emphasized the importance of the collaboration:
“Mercy Ships is doing two critical things for us: first, delivering a much-needed service; and second, training Sierra Leoneans in the core principles of patient care, patient life, and surgeries. With these, you’re not only providing a service today—you’re leaving a legacy. As a government, we are extremely pleased and grateful.”
The impact of the ship’s previous two field services has been significant. Since 2023, the Global Mercy has performed more than 3,630 free surgeries for 3,240 individuals across multiple surgical specialties. Alongside its direct medical services, Mercy Ships’ Education, Training, and Advocacy (ETA) programs continue to help strengthen Sierra Leone’s surgical systems for the future.
