In a bitter sweet ceremony at the Queen Elizabeth II Quay in Freetown, one marked by both celebration and reflection, President Julius Maada Bio said farewell to the largest hospital ship, the Global Mercy, popularly known as Mercy Ships. This comes after three consecutive years of providing free surgical procedures, education and training for healthcare professionals. From 2023 to date, the humanitarian Ship has transformed thousands of lives, delivering a wide range of services including providing more than 5,430 free surgeries for less privilege people, performing 17,110 dental procedures, and providing training to more than 590 health workers. Through a mutually respectful partnership with the Government, the ship leaves behind a lasting legacy of hope, healing, happy communities and stronger healthcare systems.
Addressing a highly pensive crowd onborad the Ship, President Bio praised the crew members, particularly the Sierra Leoneans; describing them as unsung heros who have made a profound difference in the lives of ordinary people with the most severe medical needs, but the least means to afford treatment.
“We are sad that you are going and you can feel that in this room,” the president said in a heatlfelt speech.
According to him, the true measure of the country’s partnership with Mercy Ships lies not in what it did during its time in Sierra Leone, but in what remains after it leaves. He said “we know already what this mission is leaving behind and we are very proud of this partnership.”
The Global Mercy is leaving Sierra Leone with a profound legacy that is stronger than just memories. The Ship is leaving behind thousands of Sierra Leoneans whose lives have been touched in different ways and changed forever.
“You are leaving stronger health systems with skilled professionals, as well as stronger and happier communities,” President Bio concluded.
Reflecting on the relationship with Mercy Ships, Minister of Health, Dr. Austin Demby, described the ship’s arrival as “a Godsend,” noting that “there are lots of families today that are extremely happy because of what Mercy Ships has been able to do for them.”
Dr. Demby said that the Ship became much more than a hospital in Sierra Leone’s waters, “it became a symbole of hope and healing and a symbole of what is possible when humanity comes together in service of those most in need.”
In the last three years, thousands of patients who once lived with debilitating medical conditions have been given a second chance at life. All of this is made possible through the visionary leadership of the president who requested that Mercy Ships stayed in the country this long. Dr. Demby emphasized Sierra Leone’s gratitude for the friendship, mutual respect and shared vision that have charactarised the partnership between the Government and the Global Mercy.
Minister Demby concluded that the ship is leaving behind more than a successful mission. “You are leaving behind stories of courage, and restored dreams. You leave behind grateful patients and a nation that considers you as part of its family.”
“We are not leaving behind projects without roots—we are leaving a legacy,” Matt Murray, Mercy Ships’ Managing Director.
Beyond immediate healthcare delivery, education and training, perhaps the the Global Mercy’s most enduring achievement in Sierra Leone is the development of a comprehensive national surgical strategy that ensures equitable access to quality surgical care at all levels of Sierra Leone’s health system. The Ministry of Health will also take ownership of the HOPE Center at Macauley Street in Freetown, a vital secondary healthcare facility that will continue to serve maternal and child health needs, reinforcing the country’s commitment to improving health outcomes.
Mercy Ships’ Managing Director, Matt Murray, expressed heartfelt gratitude to the Government and people of Sierra Leone, saying, “Let us take pride in what we have achieved together.
The trust and resilience of the Sierra Leonean communities have been the driving force behind this success. As we prepare to sail away to our next destination, I want to reaffirm that we are not leaving behind projects without roots—we are leaving a legacy.” He went on; “the true impact of this partnership is the transformed lives, strengthened health systems, and empowered healthcare professionals.” According Murray, Sierra Leone has demonstrated that when humanity comes together with compassion and purpose, remarkable change is possible. On her part, the Country Director of Mercy Ships’, Dr. Sandra Lako, spoke of the importance of sustained efforts, assuring that commitments to training, mentorship, and health system strengthening will continue even as the Global Mercy departs. “Our dedication to Sierra Leone remains unwavering,” she said, adding that the journey may continue elsewhere, but the foundation laid in Sierra Leone remains a powerful testament to the transformative power of partnership and shared purpose.
In collaboration with the Ministry of Health, Mercy Ships will continue supporting key programmes in nurse anesthesia, safer surgery, physiotherapy, biomedical technology, and medical education, building on three years of progress to strengthen healthcare delivery across the country.
“Three uninterrupted years is the longest field mission of Mercy Ships in any country and this was made possible through the request, unwavering commitment and support by the president; heralding a new chapter in Sierra Leone’s journey toward accessible, high-quality healthcare,” Dr. Lako thanked the more than 1,220 volunteers from over 60 nations, healthcare professionals, government partners, donors, and every Sierra Leonean whose dedication, partnership, and support made this remarkable journey possible.