Mercy Ships Africa

On Tuesday, 22/08/2023, I welcomed Mr Gert van de Weerdhof, Chief Executive Officer and the Management of @MercyShips to Sierra Leone as they commenced a 10-month Field Service. I commended Mercy Ships for honouring my invitation and conducting this 'journey of mercy' to bring hope and healing to those needing safe surgical care in #SierraLeone. Today, I officially welcomed the magnificent #GlobalMercy, Mercy Ship's newest ship and the world's largest civilian hospital ship to Sierra Leone for a 10-month field service of igniting hope through life-transforming surgery for our people. The arrival of the Mercy Ships to our shores after twelve years is a testament to the unwavering partnership between our Government, international organisations and dedicated individuals who believe in the power of humanity to make a difference. This noble mission of the Mercy Ships to provide safe surgical and dental care, advanced medical training and mentoring on board the beautiful Global Mercy aligns seamlessly with my Government’s efforts to improve healthcare accessibility and quality for all our citizens. The medical professional volunteers from around the world will meet the health needs of about 5,000 patients who have registered on the platform, of which about 2,500 are billed for surgeries of diverse nature free of charge. This collaboration will provide essential medical treatments and facilitate the transfer of knowledge and expertise that will have a lasting impact on our healthcare sector. We are profoundly grateful to @MercyShips and their donors for their dedication and commitment to the sustainable development of local surgical care throughout sub-Saharan #Africa and for bringing hope to the underserved regions of the world. On behalf of the Government and the great people of Sierra Leone, I thank the donors, doctors, nurses, surgeons and technicians on board the Global Mercy for their steadfast and selfless commitment to providing quality healthcare to the underserved members of society. I urge every Sierra Leonean to embrace this opportunity, extend a warm welcome to the Mercy Ships team, and actively participate in the efforts to make this mission a resounding success. Let us show our resilience, generosity, and commitment to building a healthier and more prosperous Sierra Leone. I welcome our two sons and daughter of the soil, who work as volunteers onboard the Global Mercy ─ Ibrahim Bangura, Andrew Momoh and Lamrana Shaw. Thank you for your service to humanity. @Presidency_SL