At 21, Åsa had just graduated as a nurse in Sweden and had a thirst for adventure. She felt compelled to do charity work and heard of an organisation that involved a derelict ship, the Anastasis. In 1979, Åsa was...
From luxury yachts to huge mega-ships, Emma Cruises could tell you all you’d ever want to know about cruises. Having just returned from reviewing her 62nd cruise around Japan and South Korea for Norwegian Cruise Line, Emma is about...
Thirty-seven years ago Merryl’s daughter Anna, was born with severe congenital deformities. At just nine months old, Merryl waited as Anna had her first surgery and then a further operation when she was two. With health challenges throughout her teenage years,...
Free, safe surgery changes lives. From Fudia to Auguste, so many women, men and children have been filled with hope after their successful surgeries on board one of our hospital ships. But there’s still so much more to be done. In...
Anaesthesia. Tricky to pronounce, impossible to spell. Yet, within surgeries, anaesthesia is essential. Without it, surgical capacity in a country is severely limited. The World Health Organization recommends 20 anaesthesiologists per one million people. However, in Sierra Leone, there...
A visit to an NHS dentist in the UK is becoming increasingly challenging as waiting lists grow. Recent government figures estimate there were 42.3 dentists per 100,000 people in 2023. But compare this to the 3.3 dentists per...
Running a hospital isn’t an easy task — it takes leaders carefully orchestrating a sea of moving parts to keep operations running smoothly. Matron Betsy Deen is that person at Connaught Hospital’s surgical department in Freetown, Sierra Leone. During Mercy...
Today, on World Maritime Day, we’re celebrating four incredible young women who are united by their shared love for the ocean, the engine room, and humanitarian action. British Second Officer Jess Callahan, now 25, started her maritime career when she...
Since the age of 11, Abbie had dreamed of becoming a doctor. She worked hard, got excellent grades and couldn’t wait to start her medical studies at Keele University in September 2023. But then she heard some devastating news....
The Global Mercy has returned to Sierra Leone for an extended time. 32-year-old police officer, Sahr, received the first surgery on board. In the UK, a hernia removal is a routine operation. According to the NHS, patients should receive...
A talented surgeon who is always seeking to learn, Dr Thierno Bah, has travelled to cities around the world for training and conferences. His experience and skill as an ophthalmic surgeon have already made him a vital part of Guinea’s...
Pedal power was in full force on Sunday, as grandmother-of-four, Nina Bleakley, crossed the finish line, completing an incredible 91 miles around the largest lake in Ireland. This is the third time Nina, from Portadown, has taken on the...
The green, white and blue Sierra Leone flag was held aloft as the Global Mercy sailed into Freetown on 14th August. It’s a day for celebration – especially for the Sierra Leonean crewmembers arriving back to their country. “This healthcare service is...
Paediatric intensive care nurse, Sarah Harley from Nottingham, flew out to join the Africa Mercy in Madagascar on 20th July. After a two-month stint volunteering with Mercy Ships in Senegal in 2022, Sarah has decided to volunteer again, this time...
Jessica Bency, a 24-year-old woman from Madagascar, works with the Mercy Ships Communications team on board the Africa Mercy as a translator. Her journey to becoming an interpreter was a unique one from the start. Not only did she have...
