Health care is widely accessible in many parts of the world, but in some places, it is much more difficult to access. Mercy Ships volunteers have been providing help to the less fortunate since 1978. A partnership with MSC in 2011 has helped Mercy Ships enhance its services.

Mercy Ships has impacted more than 2 million lives with the help of its liveaboard helpers. It has done over 119,000 surgeries, trained more than 50,000 people and has had more than 1,500 volunteers each year. Globally, 50% of all human beings live near a coast, making this the reason they use ships. “Two physicians per 10,000 people in sub-Saharan Africa” is the reason it serves the African region.

Providing Surgeries in Africa

Many of the stories by Mercy Ships recount the experiences of people living in countries where inadequate health care is available, as well as those who require surgeries.

According to Mercy Ships, ” In some areas of the world, medical professionals are a rarity. In countries like Sierra Leone, Madagascar, and others across sub-Saharan Africa, hospitals are scarce, and access to quality medical care is limited.” “Many people suffer from treatable conditions simply because there are no doctors or medical resources available to help them.”

In a 2019 Mercy Ships press release said how one child, Aissata from Guinea, was born with a cleft lip. She received assistance from liveaboard helpers through the Africa Mercy ship, which the child, of less than a year old, traveled around 200 miles with her mother to receive assistance from the liveaboard helpers.

“Their family is among the world’s estimated 5 billion people who do not have access to safe, affordable, timely surgery,” said the press release. “In sub-Saharan Africa specifically, 93% of the population cannot get the surgery it needs.” Africa requires places to get surgeries and health professionals.

Partnership

A partnership between MSC and Mercy Ships began in 2011. MSC originally provided cargo, but that turned into much more because of the attention MSC gave to Mercy Ships.

“I spent part of my childhood and early years in the shipping industry in the Horn of Africa, it is a region close to my heart,” said Diego Aponte, the founder. “I saw firsthand the challenges faced by many local communities there and this shaped my conviction that improving the availability of healthcare would bring real and lasting impact for them.”

MSC helps to provide funding, leading the way for Mercy Ships to focus on other areas.

In 2024, MSC Foundation, MSC Group and Mercy Ships partnered to grow the number of Mercy Ships to three.

This new ship will have a two-deck hospital, the ability to house around 600 crew, training areas and six operating rooms. The new ship will operate in sub-Saharan Africa.

In an MSC press release, Gert van de Weerdhof, CEO of Mercy Ships, said, “This new vessel and her future crew will enable us to meet surgical needs while supporting host nations as they develop healthcare systems with their next generation of medical professionals.”

– Matthew Restrepo

Matthew is based in Milton, GA, USA and focuses on Good News and Global Health for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Flickr