News & stories

Sahondra, Madagascar 1996 Previous image Next image 40 STORIES OF HEALING: Sahondra Since birth, a cleft lip and palate had limited Sahondra’s ability to eat, speak and even breathe normally. It was nearly impossible to take short controlled breaths through her mouth to ease her asthma attacks. Her cleft lip split her upper lip apart […] MORE INFO

With 12 anaesthestists serving Guinea, West Africa's 13 million people, a partnership to help strengthen local anaesthesia capacity was a logical step for Mercy Ships. MORE INFO

Rafael, Mexico 1987 Graeme with Rafael’s photo after surgery Rafael’s transformation Surgeon Dr Gary Parker and Rafael Previous Next 40 STORIES OF HEALING: Rafael Rafael was a man completely transformed. It wasn’t just his appearance that changed after his cleft lip surgery, his whole demeanour was altered, He was viewing life differently.  Graeme Walls says […] MORE INFO

When he first stepped on the gangway 40 years ago, Graeme knew this ship would play a big part in his life. 40 years of service was more than he imaged. MORE INFO

Dr Juliette Tuakli explains why access to safe, timely, and affordable surgery is crucial for achieving 'Health for All' in Africa. MORE INFO

Dr Mark Shrime advocates for a dual approach in strengthening surgical systems. With 2/3 of the world lacking access to surgical care, the complexity of the issue is highlighted, emphasizing the need for transformative change, partnership, and balanced efforts between relief and development. MORE INFO

When a person has spent years living with a medical condition that they are told is inoperable, it is easy to lose hope. MORE INFO

Yasawa, Fiji 1998 Previous image Next image 40 STORIES OF HEALING: Yasawa One evening in 1994, the Island Mercy was anchored off Atafu Island in the Tokelau group of islands in the Pacific. The crew enjoyed the tropical tranquility as they sat on the ship’s deck singing songs and talking about the day. One crew […] MORE INFO

Inspired by resilience of patients on board, NZ nurse returns for 5th tour-of-duty MORE INFO

He was medic, leader and a pillar of hope for his community. But now Amadou's patients were afraid of how he looked MORE INFO

Life-transforming surgery on his 20th birthday was the best gift for Cire. MORE INFO

Awa, has always been close with with her Uncle Woury. Since the moment she was born with a cleft lip, his greatest wish was that she would someday find healing. MORE INFO

When all attempts at finding help were exhausted, Sira’s family had one last hope that her badly bowed legs could be straightened. That hope led them on an arduous journey of hundreds of kilometers from their remote village to the Mercy Ship, docked in the port city of Senegal. MORE INFO

LOOKING TO THE FUTURE: Previous Next New International Chief Medical Officer. Mercy Ships is excited to welcome a new International Chief Medical Officer to the helm during an exciting new season for the organization – and for Africa. Dr Mark Shrime has been serving on board the Africa Mercy® twice a year as a volunteer head […] MORE INFO

2023 RETURN TO SIERRA LEONE Previous Next : Looking to the Future Mercy Ships has a long-lasting history reaching back more than 20 years with the West African nation of Sierra Leone. Next year, the organisation will add an exciting next chapter to this story. Upon invitation by the government of Sierra Leone, Mercy Ships […] MORE INFO

LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT AWARD Previous Next for Don Stephens, Founder of Mercy Ships WASHINGTON DC, USA December 15, 2022 – A Lifetime Achievement Award was presented to Don Stephens, founder of Mercy Ships this past weekend at the opening event of the GE7 Africa Visionary Leaders Annual Summit, held in Washington DC.  This award was presented by […] MORE INFO

INSIDE THE ICU Previous Next on board the Global Mercy Graeme Walls (Mercy Ships NZ Director) takes us on a personal tour of the ICU funded by New Zealand donors. As the newest hospital ship in the Mercy Ships fleet prepares to sail to Senegal for the inaugural surgical field service, Graeme gives a huge […] MORE INFO

PREPARING TO WELCOME THE FIRST PATIENTS Previous Next There is an atmosphere of expectation on the Global Mercy, as the crew prepares to cast off ropes docked in Spain’s Canary Islands, Ever since the new ship’s construction was completed in mid-2021, she’s been getting ready to serve her very first patients. Day after day, her crew has […] MORE INFO

GIVING BACK Senegalese crew, from right to left: Jean Marie Toure, Aissata Diop, Boucar Diouf. Senegalese crew, from right to left: Jean Marie Toure, Aissata Diop, Boucar Diouf. Senegalese crew, from right to left: Jean Marie Toure, Aissata Diop, Boucar Diouf. Senegalese crew, from right to left: Jean Marie Toure, Aissata Diop, Boucar Diouf. Previous […] MORE INFO

Unsafe surgical care can cause harm, but Mercy Ships is equipping African healthcare professionals with essential surgical skills through their state-of-the-art training programs. The Essential Surgical Skills course on the Global Mercy hospital ship provides hands-on training using simulators for lifelike suturing simulations. Graduates then return to their hospitals, empowered to deliver safe surgical care in their communities MORE INFO

Dr Pierre M'Pelé, Africa Bureau Director, brings a unique perspective driven by the desire for health care to be more accessible across Africa MORE INFO

Elvis Ngwang’s Story Previous Next  “We are bringing you to Dakar.” These were Elvis Ngwang’s absolute favorite words to tell patients in the months before the Africa Mercy® returned to Senegal. After leaving earlier than planned due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the hospital ship’s return in early 2022 was the fulfillment of a promise to hundreds […] MORE INFO

LIFE-SAVING POWER OF TRAINING Previous Next Dr Ngouatna is an anaesthetist working in critical care and emergency medicine. Already an experienced physician, he is based at Yaoundé Emergency Centre, and serves as a lecturer at the University of Yaoundé, in Cameroon. When the Africa Mercy® hospital ship traveled to his home country in 2017 to offer […] MORE INFO

Becoming Senegal’s First Previous Next Paediatric Orthopaedic Surgeon In Senegal, a nation of over 16 million people, there is currently not a single children’s orthopaedic surgeon. It’s a need that’s immense – and immediate. Without a local specialist, children with lower limb conditions in Senegal must wait for a doctor from another country to visit. […] MORE INFO

2023 Return To Sierra Leone Previous Next : Looking to the Future Mercy Ships has a long-lasting history reaching back more than 20 years with the West African nation of Sierra Leone. Next year, the organisation will add an exciting next chapter to this story. Upon invitation by the government of Sierra Leone, Mercy Ships […] MORE INFO

Vivien served in one of the most challenging roles onboard the Mercy Ship – the experienced paediatric nurse works in the screening team. MORE INFO

Mercy Ships – a legacy of hope and healing Previous Next 40 STORIES OF HEALING: How it all began A devastating hurricane, meeting Mother Teresa and the birth of a special needs son drove a God-given dream that would inspire bringing hope and healing to the world’s poorest people. Since 1978 Don and Deyon Stephens […] MORE INFO

Señora Camacho, Mexico 1987 Previous Next 40 STORIES OF HEALING: Señora Camacho The elderly woman struggled to see as she slowly made her way up the Anastasis gangway. The ship’s crew were full of anticipation, hoping to catch a glimpse of the FIRST PATIENT to ever have surgery on a Mercy Ship. ‘Señora Camacho shuffled […] MORE INFO

Aminata, Sierra Leone 1993 Sandy and Aminata on board the Anastasis © Mercy Ships A life-long friendship had been forged Previous image Next image 40 STORIES OF HEALING: Aminata People found Aminata terrifying and yelled curses at her. They called the teenager The Witch of Freetown because of the large tumour that grew from her […] MORE INFO

Benigno, Guatemala 2001 © Mercy Ships © Mercy Ships © Mercy Ships Previous image Next image 40 STORIES OF HEALING: Benigno ‘Children seemed to enjoy tripping and hitting me because I couldn’t see,’ Benigno explained. Bilateral cataracts had so reduced his sight that he could hardly see the children coming towards him. ‘So my father […] MORE INFO

Paul Pascal, Cameroon 2018 Previous image Next image 40 STORIES OF HEALING: Paul Pascal Paul Pascal was born with a cleft lip that disfigured his face and a cleft palate that made it impossible to breastfeed properly. His mother watched helplessly as he grew thinner and weaker. People around her called him a monster. His […] MORE INFO

Mama H, Guinea 2013 Tender touch was an important part of Mama H’s healing Hasanatu quickly bacame known on the wards as Mama H Mama H meets the crew members who donated blood for her surgery Previous image Next image 40 STORIES OF HEALING: Mama H Where she comes from, the question is not what […] MORE INFO

Felisia, Benin 2000 Felicia had a lot of hope 40 STORIES OF HEALING: Felisia She arrived to the Mercy Ship Anastasis with a definite air of expectation; for over 50 years Felisia had lived without a nose. When she was just a teenager, a painful wound appeared on Felisia’s arm. She credits this as the […] MORE INFO

Grace, Congo 2013 Grace before and after surgery Life hung in the balance for the 17-year-old Grace’s sass is back! Previous image Next image 40 STORIES OF HEALING: Grace Grace was one of the first patients up the Africa Mercy gangway in the Republic of the Congo in 2013. It was a race against time […] MORE INFO

LORETTE, PHILIPPINES 1999 Previous image Next image 40 STORIES OF HEALING: Lorette Prayer has always played a key role in the hope and healing that Mercy Ships offers. Sometimes God’s answer to these prayers is something that surprises everyone. Lorette knew she had glaucoma and the vision in her right eye was failing. She also […] MORE INFO

MARIA, EL SALVADOR 1999 Previous image Next image 40 STORIES OF HEALING: Maria Maria was doing chores in her garden in El Salvador, while her granddaughter played by her side. Suddenly she noticed the toddler had wandered over to the newly dug well – and toppled into it! Maria ran to the rim and peered […] MORE INFO

Niki, Cote d’Ivoire 1991 Previous image Next image 40 STORIES OF HEALING: Niki In a remote fishing village in the Ivory Coast, a midwife was tending a premature baby that had been abaondoned by her family.  The Anastasis team visiting the village included a huge-hearted couple who made a life-transforming decision. Peter and Suzanne had […] MORE INFO

Yaya, Guinea 2012 Yaya before and after orthopaedic surgery © Mercy Ships The resilient, courageous Yaya © Mercy Ships Yaya and his friend nurse Dan.© Mercy Ships Previous image Next image 40 STORIES OF HEALING: Yaya Yaya didn’t dare to hope his terribly twisted legs could ever be restored, even when he heard the Mercy […] MORE INFO

Monique, Cameroon 2008 Previous image Next image 40 STORIES OF HEALING: Monique Shy little Monique never let on her vision was fading, leading everyone to believe she simply wasn’t trying. But one day, as Monique fumbled around, Grandma realised all was not all as it seemed. Monique waited in darkness, listening intently to her grandmother […] MORE INFO

Sidiatu, Sierra Leone 2011 Previous image Next image 40 STORIES OF HEALING: Sidiatu Born with cataracts in both eyes, Sidiatu’s blindness required her Mum’s undivided attention. It broke her heart. Fatmata had been searching for hope for over a year – hope that her baby daughter might have a normal life. Fatmata’s older daughter watched […] MORE INFO

Jatu, Sierra Leone 2010 Previous image Next image 40 STORIES OF HEALING: Jatu Jatu didn’t know exactly how old she was. She thought she might be 15, but her playful grin and bright pink polka dot nail polish suggested she was a lot younger. Whatever her age, Jatu has already endured enough suffering to fill […] MORE INFO

Fifalina, Madagascar 2015 Previous Next 40 STORIES OF HEALING: Fifalina Fifalina knows setbacks. She was born with a condition that caused her legs to become twisted and turned severely in multiple directions. The day Kristi met her, Fifalina was chasing a balloon- barely able to walk but laughing anyway. ‘There are a lot of days […] MORE INFO

Hurricane Mitch, Nicaragua 1998 Previous Next 40 STORIES OF HEALING: Hurricane Mitch It was the most devastating hurricane in the Caribbean region for more than 200 years. As winds reached 180 mph, thousands of people living in poverty were killed, injured or left homeless. Families were torn apart Operation Mercy in October 1998 wasn’t about […] MORE INFO

Kaltoumi, Cameroon 2017 Previous Next 40 STORIES OF HEALING: Kaltoumi Kaltoumi had 3 months to live when she was helped up the Africa Mercy gangway in Cameroon in 2016. The massive facial tumour she’d carried for almost half her life threatened to slowly suffocate the 12-year-old. Early death from starvation or the inability to breathe […] MORE INFO

Blessing, Liberia 2005 Previous Next 40 STORIES OF HEALING: Blessing One day Blessing was walking home from school in Liberia, when she fell into a ditch, and her wounded leg rapidly became infected. The local hospital delivered a shocking diagnosis – it was the horrific flesh-eating bacteria noma. A small cut’s infection was shockingly aggressive; […] MORE INFO

Serah, Madagascar 2016 Previous Next 40 STORIES OF HEALING: Serah Sandrine’s elation turned to shock when her longed-for daughter was born. The baby’s tiny feet were twisted at severe right-angles, facing inward. Her father feared for their daughter’s future. Sandrine tearfully wrapped Serah’s disfigured feet and could not find the courage to look at them […] MORE INFO

Bintu, Sierra Leone 2002 © Mercy Ships 40 STORIES OF HEALING: Bintu Bintu was only 9 when rebels overran her village during the Sierra Leone civil War. There was no warning and no chance to flee. Bintu was abducted by a rebel leader. Bintu was only 9 when rebels overran her village during the Sierra […] MORE INFO

Edoh, Togo 1995 © Mercy Ships © Mercy Ships © Mercy Ships Previous Next 40 STORIES OF HEALING: Edoh Her parents had all but given her up for dead. The grapefruit-sized tumour on Edoh’s face was relentlessly expanding into her airway when her parents journeyed 500km – to their last hope. The line was heartbreakingly […] MORE INFO

Haingo, Madagascar 2016 Previous Next 40 STORIES OF HEALING: Haingo Haingo was born in a tropical downpour. In the hut’s dim light, it was clear Haingo ’s tiny mouth was slashed by a bilateral cleft lip. Her father immediately rejected the newborn. Viviaby immediately loved her baby girl and was shocked when her husband declared, […] MORE INFO

Laurence, Ghana 2006 © Mercy Ships © Mercy Ships © Mercy Ships Previous Next 40 STORIES OF HEALING: Laurence A piece of a broken knife was hidden in Laurence’s cheek for 19 years. Despite frequent pain, the blade wasn’t discovered until he headed to the Mercy Ships dental clinic to deal with his ‘toothache. ‘One […] MORE INFO

Cavilla, Benin 2001 40 STORIES OF HEALING: Cavilla Cavilla was from a stilt village in one of Benin’s rivers. The 3-year-old’s tragic journey made a life-long impact on Sonja Dawson, a nurse who recounts how she reunited with Cavilla’s family 15 years later. ‘Cavilla received free surgery on board in 1994 for an enormous eye […] MORE INFO

Sambany, Madagascar 2014 Previous Next 40 STORIES OF HEALING: Sambany When he was still a young man, the tumour on his face began to consume Sambany’s life. For 36 years it grew, and grew, and grew – until it became a monstrous burden weighing 7.46 kg. ‘I could not do anything,’ Sambany lamented.’Every day I […] MORE INFO

Kumbuna, Gambia 2002 © Mercy Ships © Mercy Ships © Mercy Ships Previous Next 40 STORIES OF HEALING: Kumbuna The two and a half year old with twelve tiny braids pointing in all directions certainly isn’t the typical patient in the women’s health ward – thankfully. In many parts of Africa, millions of girls like […] MORE INFO

REGINA, SIERRA LEONE 1993 Previous Next 40 STORIES OF HEALING: Day 10 Like any new parents, Catherine and Augustine excitedly awaited the birth of their first child. But as Catherine’s labour continued for a number of days, the family’s apprehension grew. After four days of labour without medical care, the 18- year-old was exhausted, frightened […] MORE INFO

JIMMY, MADAGASCAR 2015 Jimmy was excited to be mobile Physio Hannah from Napier , preparing Jimmy’s prosthetic © Mercy Ships Previous image Next image 40 STORIES OF HEALING: Jimmy Jimmy was homeless, and his severe wounds from childhood burns had never been properly treated. He was suffering terribly as toxins built in his body. Kiwi […] MORE INFO

Paula, Honduras 2003 Paula outside her home with her grand daughters Palua having her hair cut by Helen Previous image Next image 40 STORIES OF HEALING: Paula An honest farmer, Antonio had nothing to hide from the police banging on his door. So he opened it. That was a fatal mistake. Seven young men from […] MORE INFO

Gisele, Congo 2014 Previous Next 40 STORIES OF HEALING: Gisele She was 28 years old and expecting a baby. Gisele was elated with the anticipation of motherhood – until she lost her baby during a prolonged, obstructed labour in her Congolese village.  Added to the physical pain of the traumatic birth and the heartbreak of […] MORE INFO

Ebenezer, Ghana 2006 © Mercy Ships © Mercy Ships Previous Next 40 STORIES OF HEALING: Ebenezer When Jason Walls was 13, there was only one thing on his mind – soccer. ‘I played at school, after school, after dinner and, sometimes, even before breakfast. That was not uncommon for boys of my age and at […] MORE INFO

PATRICK, SIERRA LEONE 1992 Previous image Next image 40 STORIES OF HEALING: Patrick The enormous tumour began as a small lump on his chin when Patrick was a child. He endured ridicule and rejection as it increased in size until, as a young man, he made his way to the Mercy Ship in 1993. The […] MORE INFO

Dreige & Eddy, Congo 2014 Previous Next 40 STORIES OF HEALING: Dreige and Eddy Imagine a childhood without soccer matches, games of hide and seek, or clouds to watch. Dreige & Eddy were robbed of these simple delights by sight-stealing cataracts. From the moment the 14-year-old boys met at the Africa Mercy dock, they were […] MORE INFO

Hawa, Sierra Leone 2005 Previous Next 40 STORIES OF HEALING: Hawa The benign tumour in Hawa’s mouth had grown so large in the 2 years after the swelling started, she could barely eat. Their neighbours said she was cursed. But Hawa found hope – on a Mercy Ship. Hawa was just 6 years old when […] MORE INFO

She suffered from a condition that is completely preventable, and yet no help was within her reach. MORE INFO

ALYA Previous Next Despite the odds of finding Alya five years later in post-Ebola Guinea, his Kiwi surgeon searched for his patient. Dr Neil Thomson wanted to see the long-term impact of his surgery which removed the life-threatening yet benign tumour from the boy’s throat years ago. Alay’s dad sat on a stool at the […] MORE INFO

An optometrist paying her own way to bring sight to those who cannot see by volunteering in Africa on the Global Mercy. MORE INFO

A New Zealand nurse is to spend six months in the West African nation of Senegal on board a floating surgical hospital. MORE INFO

Discouraged by recent events and pressures in the healthcare system, New Zealand perioperative nurse Jude Quijano felt he needed to be inspired all over again about nursing and needed a reset. Volunteering in the Mercy Ships’ operating theatres in Senegal reconnected Jude professionally and personally with the end result of his theatre work; the real life impact of orthopaedic reconstructive surgery for a little girl whose life was transformed. MORE INFO

Discouraged by recent events and pressures in the healthcare system, New Zealand perioperative nurse Jude Quijano felt he needed to be inspired all over again about nursing and needed a reset. Volunteering in the Mercy Ships’ operating theatres in Senegal reconnected Jude professionally and personally with the end result of his theatre work; the real life impact of orthopaedic reconstructive surgery for a little girl whose life was transformed. MORE INFO

Vivien served in one of the most challenging roles onboard the Mercy Ship – the experienced paediatric nurse works in the screening team. MORE INFO

Steph’s previous experience serving on board the hospital ship as a ward nurse paved the way for her to return into the role of wound care coordinator – an extremely demanding and highly skilled role. It’s Steph and her team’s job to change the wound dressings for patients after surgery. MORE INFO

To the long term crew on board, Robyn is affectionately known as a ‘repeat offender’. To date, she has completed nine self-funded, three-month trips volunteering with Mercy Ships. She’s helped provide post-operative surgical care while the hospital ship was docked in Congo, Benin, Madagascar, Cameroon, Guinea and Senegal. MORE INFO

MIRIAM WHITE Miriam White, Radiology Technician, putting a orthopedic patient through the CT Scanner. © Mercy Ships Radiology Technician reading CT Scan of a patient© Mercy Ships Patient’s x-rayy are done on board the hospital ship © Mercy Ships Miriam White, Radiology Technician and Emma Lattey, Physical Therapist, volunteers, on board the hospital ship Africa […] MORE INFO

JESSICA AND FAMILY Previous Next VIA WELLINGTON. Jessica lives on the Mercy Ship with her parents. She is nine years old and she attends school on board. Her classmates are the children of other crew members from all over the globe. She lives with her parents in a family cabin and while they are at […] MORE INFO

JANINE BOYES A Kiwi crew with seven years of volunteer work and ten nations under her belt Janine Boyes leading groups during fire drill © Mercy Ships Janine Boyes, from New Zealand, serves in HR department © Mercy Ships Janine Boyes, from New Zealand, is serving on hospital ship since 2010 © Mercy Ships Previous […] MORE INFO

FIL JANSONS Previous Next ELECTRONICS TECH FROM CHRISTCHURCH ‘I wanted to combine my skills and find a practical way I could serve God and help the needy of this world,’ explains Fil. He is one of the hidden heroes aboard the Mercy Ship – for seven months he is filling an engineering role that is […] MORE INFO

ESTHER HARRINGTON Previous Next RECEPTIONIST FROM NAPIER At home she’s a commercial pilot and flight instructor, on board she works in reception where, under the oversight of the Captain, she helps staff the essential communications hub of the Mercy Ship 24/7. ‘I am volunteering with Mercy Ships because my heart is to help people in […] MORE INFO

EMMA LATTEY Previous Next PHYSIOTHERAPIST FROM NAPIER As a sports therapist with 17 years’ experience, Emma has many high profile clients including an impressive list of All Blacks. What is equally impressive is her commitment to give her best, personally and professionally, to people in extreme poverty in sub-Saharan Africa. This is Emma’s first experience […] MORE INFO

DR NEIL THOMPSON Previous Next SURGEON FROM NELSON Surfer, botanist, ENT surgeon. After volunteering four times with Mercy Ships in West Africa, Dr Neil Thomson says, ‘You can never be the same after serving on board. Every time it has a different flavour.’ He is known as ‘Dr Neil’ on board the hospital ship. The […] MORE INFO

Tellez children, Mexico 1987 The family in the Anastasis ward after their cataract surgeries Volunteer ophthalmic surgeon, Dr Bob Dyer Ready to head home Previous Next 40 STORIES OF HEALING: Tellez children When Señor Tellez heard there was a chance for his four blind children to receive free eye surgeries, he was determined to do […] MORE INFO

Sao, Liberia 2007 Sao was blinded by dense cataracts Sao had to be guided on board Mercy Ships volunteers preparing Sao for surgery Previous Next 40 STORIES OF HEALING: Sao The Africa Mercy crew had spent 7 years in shipyard converting the Danish ferry into a hospital ship. Every day they were conscious of preparing […] MORE INFO