Mercyships's blog

Mercy Ships is appealing for local businesses and organisations to take part in a charity Dragon Boat Race on Saturday 6th June, at Stanborough Park, WGC.

An action-packed day of races and events is planned for all the family and Mercy Ships hopes that businesses will come together to raise much needed funds for its work in Africa.

Each team needs 11 members and two reserves, which includes a space for the drummer at the back of the boat and a steersman at the front.  read more »

Ann Gloag, co-founder of the transport company Stagecoach and trustee of Mercy Ships UK, has been admitted into the Order of the Star of Africa with the grade of Commander, in recognition of her support for the people and the country of Liberia.

President Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf of Liberia, Africa’s first and only female President, honoured Ann Gloag on 11th March at a ceremony attended by the Vice President, members of the national legislature, cabinet ministers, diplomats, UN officials and staff of the JFK Hospital.  read more »

Cotonou, Benin, 27th February, 2009.  During Mercy Ship’s first week of surgeries in Benin, the President, Dr. Thomas Yayi Boni, and several cabinet ministers visited the Africa Mercy to express gratitude for increasing access to health care for the poor in his country.   read more »

Mercy Ships held its general screening day on Thursday 19th February at the Hall des Arts, in Cotonou, Benin.

Volunteer nurses, doctors, and support staff screened 1,952 patients, but the number was so large, a second screening day took place on Friday, with over 500 additional patients seen.

Seeing that many patients in one day is challenging, even for Dr. Gary Parker, Chief Medical Officer and maxillo-facial surgeon with Mercy Ships, who has worked at nearly fifty screening days.  read more »

In the lead up to Easter, Mercy Ships is holding its first ever Easter Breakfast fundraising campaign to help improve the lives of the poor and needy.

The campaign to encourage schools, offices, churches and communities across the UK to hold Easter Breakfasts kicks off this week as the Africa Mercy hospital ship arrives in Benin to provide free medical care to thousands of people in need.   read more »

COTONOU, BENIN, WEST AFRICA, 10th February, 2009: Hundreds of well-wishers lined up to welcome the Africa Mercy hospital ship, and her crew into the Port of Cotonou, to begin a 10-month assignment in the nation.

Invited by Benin’s Ministry of Health, the Africa Mercy’s medical and development crew look forward to partnering with officials under the government of President Yayi Boni.  read more »

A host of leading doctors, business leaders and heads of the medical and shipping industries joined together 31st January 2009 to celebrate the 30th Anniversary of Mercy Ships.

Among the 130 guests being entertained at the prestigious Landmark Hotel in London with exquisite food and live bands, were Mercy Ship volunteers, the true heroes behind the charity. 

Every year hundreds of doctors, nurses, cooks and engineers give up their lives in the UK and make their way to Africa to volunteer with Mercy Ships.  read more »

On December 16, The Africa Mercy pulled out of the Free Port of Monrovia, Liberia, ending four years of assistance by Mercy Ships in the rebuilding of Liberia’s infrastructure.

President Johnson Sirleaf visited the ship prior to departure to thank the crew, acknowledge the investment made by Mercy Ships, and to pledge that progress will be continued.  read more »

More than 1,200 volunteers who have served on board the world’s largest charity hospital ship in Liberia this year are being recognised tomorrow (5th December) as part of International Volunteer Day.

The Africa Mercy relies entirely on volunteers who serve on board from as little as two weeks, with some crew having been with the charity for more than 20 years.

The ship houses up to 450 volunteers at any one time, ranging from medical staff to engineers and cooks.  read more »

In the 2008 Field Service in Liberia, the Mercy Ships HIV/AIDS programme “Tide of Hope” held three conferences to empower church leaders in serving the HIV/AIDS needs of their own communities.

During three six-day workshops, 74 participants from 13 churches increased their knowledge of HIV/AIDS.  read more »