Timothy Musa Kabba, Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation and Dr Sandra Lako, Mercy Ships Sierra Leone Country Director
Sierra Leone’s Ministry of Health and Mercy Ships have agreed to keep the Global Mercy™, the world’s largest civilian hospital ship designed for medical service, docked in Freetown until June 2026.
This decision marks the charity’s third con Dr. Sandra Lako, Mercy Ships Sierra Leone Country Director, consecutive field service in Sierra Leone, and its eighth visit to the country since its inception in 1992. The collaboration emphasises a shared commitment to providing critical surgical care to people in need across the country.
In conjunction with this announcement, Mercy Ships and the Sierra Leonean government signed a renewed protocol agreement, indicating a stronger collaboration. This agreement seeks to support long-term improvements in the country’s healthcare system, extending the partnership’s impact far beyond the ship’s scheduled departure in 2026, with plans to continue efforts until 2030.
Since it arrived in Freetown in August 2023, Global Mercy has already made a significant impact by providing over 2,470 free surgeries to patients who would otherwise be unable to receive critical medical care. Furthermore, the ship has trained over 230 healthcare professionals, in line with Sierra Leone’s national healthcare priorities, which include improving access to critical surgical services and improving the skills of the healthcare workforce.
The protocol addendum was officially signed by Dr. Austin Demby, Minister of Health, and Mr. Timothy Musa Kabba, Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation. Both officials emphasised the strong trust and collaboration that underpin this partnership. Dr. Demby thanked Mercy Ships for their empathy and dedication, noting the visible transformations in patients and the joy felt by their families. He commented, “You see it in the smiles, not just of the patients, but also of their families and relatives who come to see the transformation in their loved ones.”
Minister Kabba echoed this sentiment, expressing optimism for the future. He stated, “Over the next five years, we hope to increase the number of beneficiaries and make Sierra Leoneans healthy enough to pursue their God-given opportunities.”
Dr. Sandra Lako, Mercy Ships Sierra Leone Country Director, expressed her excitement about the ongoing collaboration, saying, “We are delighted to continue providing life-changing surgeries and training on board the ship for another ten months.”Our five-year agreement with Sierra Leone’s government confirms our shared commitment to making a long-term impact on the surgical care system, and we look forward to seeing the ripple effect of this ongoing collaboration.”
Mercy Ships works closely with the Ministry of Health and the University of Sierra Leone to drive long-term improvements in the country’s surgical care framework. Their educational initiatives include sponsoring Sierra Leonean dental students at the Université Gamal Abdel Nasser de Conakry in Guinea, with graduates promising to strengthen the country’s limited dental workforce. Furthermore, nurse training programs have emphasised critical areas such as perioperative care, anaesthesia, and sterile processing.
Mercy Ships received accreditation from the West African College of Surgeons in 2024, allowing surgical and anaesthesia residents to complete placements on the Global Mercy. This initiative is intended to supplement existing in-country training programs, improving the overall quality of surgical education in Sierra Leone.
