Africa-Press – Sierra-Leone. Sierra Leone’s Vice President, Dr. Mohamed Juldeh Jalloh, has reaffirmed the Government’s commitment to transforming the country’s healthcare sector as he officially welcomed the arrival of the Global Mercy, the world’s largest civilian hospital ship, for its third consecutive field service in Sierra Leone.
Speaking at a ceremony in Freetown on Thursday 28th August 2025, Dr. Mohamed Juldeh Jalloh described the visit as a milestone in the country’s ongoing partnership with Mercy Ships, a global non-Governmental organization dedicated to providing free, safe surgical care and capacity building in developing countries.
“This morning, I formally welcomed the Mercy Ship, marking its eighth voyage to our shores since 1992,” the Vice President said. “Mercy Global’s vision of restoring dignity and hope through life-saving surgical interventions resonates deeply with our people. In Sierra Leone alone, over 3,600 surgeries were carried out during their last two field visits, directly improving and saving lives.”
The Vice President emphasized that the work of Mercy Ships complements the Government’s broader healthcare delivery plan, which prioritizes strengthening the health workforce, improving infrastructure, increasing access to essential drugs and equipment and ensuring world-class diagnostic services. He assured the organization and its partners that their interventions would be integrated into Sierra Leone’s long-term strategy for a resilient healthcare system.
After undergoing a brief maintenance period in Cádiz, Spain, the Global Mercy will spend ten months in Sierra Leone, delivering specialized surgeries and medical training. Since 2023, the vessel has performed more than 3,630 free surgeries for 3,240 individuals, while also supporting surgical system strengthening through its medical capacity building programs.
Mercy Ships representatives underscored the long-term impact of their collaboration with Sierra Leone. Suzanne Thomas, Programs Director, noted: “We are delighted to expand learning opportunities on board the Global Mercy and to continue our support for service development at Connaught Hospital, alongside accredited training through the University of Sierra Leone.”
To date, Mercy Ships has delivered over 63,000 hours of training to more than 290 Sierra Leonean healthcare professionals, equipping local doctors, nurses and anesthetists with the skills needed to sustain progress beyond the ship’s presence.
Dr. Sandra Lako, Country Director for Mercy Ships in Sierra Leone, stressed the importance of this shared vision: “The much-anticipated return of the Global Mercy reflects a joint commitment with the Ministry of Health to bridge gaps in surgical capacity. In addition to free, safe surgeries, we are investing in local healthcare professionals who will create lasting change.”
The Global Mercy will provide a wide range of specialized surgical services, including maxillofacial, pediatric, orthopedic, reconstructive, general and ophthalmic surgery, while also offering accredited training programs in collaboration with Sierra Leonean institutions.
Dr. Mohamed Juldeh Jalloh concluded by noting that the continued presence of Mercy Ships in Sierra Leone is both a sign of confidence and a critical partnership. “This collaboration speaks to the heart of our national agenda to deliver quality healthcare for all Sierra Leoneans. Together, we are not only transforming lives today but building a healthcare system that will serve generations to come,” he said.
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