DAKAR, SENEGAL — H.E. President of Senegal Macky Sall has inaugurated the world’s largest purpose-built hospital ship and committed to accelerate access to surgical, obstetric and anesthetic care for the nations of Africa. ​ Ceremonies commemorated more than 30 years of service in Africa. ​ Global humanitarian organization Mercy Ships and its partners in Africa used the opportunity to come together in an unprecedented and strategic effort to improve access to safer surgery across the continent through a series of milestone events.

After many years of anticipation the world’s largest civilian floating hospital ship Global Mercy run by Christian charity Mercy Ships has finally arrived in Senegal which is currently docked alongside their other vessel the Africa Mercy.

While in port in Dakar the crew participated in a week of ceremonies to inaugurate this new vessel into service in Africa hosted by Senegal’s President Macky Sall.

Mercy Ships International Chief Medical Officer, Dr. Miriam John, says in the midst of their celebrations they’ve already started vital training on board, while their other vessel the Africa Mercy is continuing to conduct surgeries.

We will be delivering essential surgical skills training. We’ll be doing safe courses, anesthesia courses. And for some of those courses we’re able to run them in our Operating Rooms. Because we’re not using them for surgeries we can actually bring that into the Operating Rooms and train them as a team.

And Dr. John says God has been so faithful to enable them to get to this point where they can increase their impact.

When you see both these ships side by side both of our crews really see God’s faithfulness. We really felt this was the direction He was guiding us and now we are side by side.

During last week’s official inauguration Mercy Ships and many of their African partners committed to the Dakar Declaration which will advance access to medical treatment throughout the continent over the coming years.

About Mercy Ships

Mercy Ships uses hospital ships to deliver free, world-class healthcare services, capacity building, and sustainable development to those with little access in the developing world. Founded in 1978 by Don and Deyon Stephens, Mercy Ships has worked in more than 55 developing countries, providing services valued at more than $1.7 billion and directly benefitting more than 2.8 million people. Our ships are crewed by volunteers from over 60 nations, with an average of over 1,200 volunteers each year. Professionals including surgeons, dentists, nurses, healthcare trainers, teachers, cooks, seamen, engineers, and agriculturalists donate their time and skills. With 16 national offices and an Africa Bureau, Mercy Ships seeks to transform individuals and serve nations one at a time. For more information click on www.mercyships.org.

CONTACT: Diane Rickard, Int’l Media Relations Manager, Mercy Ships, Diane.rickard@mercyships.org

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