Mercy Ships - The face of love in action

Mercy Ships is a faith-based international development organisation that deploys hospital ships to some of the poorest countries in the world, delivering vital, free healthcare to people in desperate need.

About third of population have no access to safe, affordable and timely surgery.

Founded in 1978 by Don and Deyon Stephens, Mercy Ships has worked in more than 56 countries, providing services valued at more than £1.2 billion. It has become the largest non governmental medical ship in the world.  Visits include:-

2020 Liberia
2019 Senegal
2018 Guinea

The current Mercy Ship is a second hand Danish ferry ship - Africa Mercy 2007.

Mercy Ship Services
Free healthcare and palliative care
Community Development projects and health education
Mental Health programs
Agricultural projects

Principles of Mercy Ships
Provide operative care
Training local staff
Provide infrastructure 

In partnership with the host nations government, communicate everything is free.

Ahead of the arrival of a Mercy Ship, triage stations are held. Waiting time can be a great many hours. Identify the need and select patients. Mercy Ship visits usually last six months.

Five theatres undertake plastic surgery, burn contracture, reconstruction, cleft lip and palate, cataract, dental, maxillofacial, ophthalmic, orthopaedic, etc. Ship is equipped with 80 ward beds and 5 beds in Intensive Care Unit, CT scanner and X Ray machines.

56 nations

95,000 operations

445,000 dental procedures

Services amounted to £1.2bn 

The crew are all volunteers, 400 on board at any one time. All pay for own travel and board.

Crew stay a minimum of two weeks, some stay for years. Only half the jobs are medical so many professions are offered.

Faith based, no attempts are made to convert to Christianity. 

Support by donating, volunteering and by spreading the word.

Vote of thanks was made by Martin King who said that what the Mercy Ships left behind that was the tribute to the organisation.