Latest news with #AfricaMercy®
Zawya
06-05-2025
- Health
- Zawya
Teen Burn Survivor Can Wear Shoes for First Time After Life-Changing Surgery
A 14-year-old boy can finally wear shoes for the first time in his life after safe surgery from international charity Mercy Ships ( corrected severe burn injuries that left his foot fused to his ankle. Tera is from a fishing village on the outskirts of Manakara in southeast Madagascar. He was just one year old when he accidentally tipped over a pot of boiling water — a common hazard in homes where food is traditionally cooked over open flames on the ground. Although Tera was too young to remember the accident, his parents told him what happened. 'My mom went to the washroom, and I was crawling and knocked [the pot] over. The hot water spilled all over me and that is how I got burned,' he shared. The boiling water left Tera with severe burns on his legs. With no means to pay for hospital care, his family sought out three traditional healers, each offering their own remedies, but nothing seemed to work. Tera's wounds eventually resolved without medical intervention, but the way it healed limited his movement and he had to walk barefoot for 13 years. South African Reconstructive Plastic Surgeon Dr. Tertius Venter has been volunteering with Mercy Ships for the last 24 years. He explained more about Tera's condition: 'The burn is often not all that deep, but it gets infected and then you get more destruction of the skin, and it just goes deeper. The only way that the body can heal it is by pulling the tissues together. So, he developed a contracture between his foot and his ankle, which limited the movement there.' Due to his injury, Tera could not take his favorite position as a goalkeeper on the soccer field with the children in his community. 'I like playing soccer, but they don't really like me. I see my friends playing and I want to play too,' he said. 'I made a plastic ball, but my friends still rejected me because I can't play, so I left, crying and feeling very sad.' His mother's inability to lift her son's burden weighed heavily on her mind. But when volunteers from Mercy Ships spoke to her about free surgery on board the Africa Mercy®, she did not think twice. She wrapped Tera's baby brother on her back and embarked on a two-day journey with her children to Toamasina. Australian Volunteer Ward Nurse Natasha Short spent three months on the Africa Mercy and saw a glaring difference in reconstructive plastics surgery compared to her home country, where 'we treat the burns early so they don't need as much surgery.' After 13 long years searching for healing, Tera finally went into surgery. A skilled team led by Dr. Venter freed the burn contracture on Tera's foot in just two hours. 'He should have a normal functioning ankle now, which means he will be able to play like any other child and play sport, especially soccer, and he can wear a normal shoe,' Dr. Venter said. Following the surgery, Tera's life was transformed. He got to wear his favorite 'number one' jersey as a goalkeeper on the soccer field, the position he always wanted to play. 'Before, I was not able to wear [shoes], I was barefoot in the streets even though it was so hot. Since being back from Mercy Ships, I have been able to wear [shoes]' he said cheerfully. 'I am happy because my friends do not make fun of me anymore. We all play together now. The things that my friends can do, I'm also able to do them.' After the surgery, his father is confident he can now teach him to fish. 'We go fishing today and I put him in the front of the canoe and tomorrow we do the same thing, and the third or fourth day, he can go alone already. He is a fast learner,' Tera's father said. Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Mercy Ships. For more information about Mercy Ships, contact: Sophie Barnett Mercy Ships International PR Manager About Mercy Ships: Mercy Ships operates hospital ships that deliver free surgeries and other healthcare services to those with little access to safe medical care. An international faith-based organization, Mercy Ships has focused entirely on partnering with African nations for the past three decades. Working with in-country partners, Mercy Ships also provides training to local healthcare professionals and supports the construction of in-country medical infrastructure to leave a lasting impact. Each year, more than 2,500 volunteer professionals from over 60 countries serve on board the world's two largest non-governmental hospital ships, the Africa Mercy ® and the Global Mercy ™. Professionals such as surgeons, dentists, nurses, health trainers, cooks, and engineers dedicate their time and skills to accelerate access to safe surgical and anesthetic care. Mercy Ships was founded in 1978 and has offices in 16 countries as well as an Africa Service Center in Dakar, Senegal. For more information, visit and follow @ MercyShips on social media.
Zawya
13-02-2025
- Health
- Zawya
Hospital Ship Africa Mercy® Returns to Madagascar: A Joint Initiative to Strengthen Access to Surgical Care and Healthcare Training
With a strong focus on human capital development, the Ministry of Public Health, in partnership with the international humanitarian organization Mercy Ships ( announced the arrival of the hospital ship Africa Mercy ® in Toamasina today. This return marks a significant step in improving access to quality surgical care for the Malagasy population. Over the next ten months, more than 1,375 free surgeries will be performed, along with around 1,480 dental procedures, benefiting the most vulnerable patients. At the same time, a continuous training program will enhance the skills of Malagasy healthcare professionals, contributing to long-term improvements in surgical and anesthetic care in the country. This strategic partnership between the Ministry of Public Health and Mercy Ships reaffirms the Malagasy government's commitment to strengthening the country's healthcare capacity, in alignment with the Sustainable Development Goals and the National Health Policy. The joint efforts of both teams have already enabled the selection of patients across 12 regions in Madagascar, ensuring an efficient and targeted response to the most urgent surgical needs. The success of this field service has been made possible thanks to the strong support of Malagasy authorities, including the President of the Republic, the Ministry of Public Health, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and the Ministry of Economy and Finance. This initiative highlights the importance of public-private partnerships in improving healthcare services and strengthening the country's surgical delivery. The Africa Mercy, a state-of-the-art floating hospital, provides free and safe surgical interventions in various specialties, including Maxillofacial surgery, Ophthalmic surgery, Reconstructive Plastic surgery, Pediatric Orthopedic surgery, and General surgery. Beyond surgical care, Mercy Ships is committed to building local capacity by offering training in surgery, anesthesia, nursing, and dental care in collaboration with Malagasy universities. This knowledge transfer is essential to ensuring the progressive empowerment of Madagascar's healthcare system. Since its first mission to Madagascar in 1996, Mercy Ships has performed more than 11,000 surgeries and provided 65,000 dental treatments. Additionally, over 2,500 healthcare professionals have received specialized training, significantly contributing to the country's long-term surgical care capacity. The return of the Africa Mercy is a testament to the Malagasy government's dedication to ensuring access to quality healthcare for all. This partnership between the Ministry of Public Health and Mercy Ships aligns with the national vision for human capital development, which places healthcare at the heart of the country's priorities. With this new mission, Madagascar is taking another step toward enhancing its healthcare system and reducing health disparities, reaffirming that healthcare is a national priority and a pillar of sustainable development. Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Mercy Ships. For more information about Mercy Ships, contact: Sophie Barnett Mercy Ships International PR Manager ABOUT MERCY SHIPS: Mercy Ships operates hospital ships that deliver free surgeries and other healthcare services to those with little access to safe medical care. An international faith-based organization, Mercy Ships has focused entirely on partnering with African nations for the past three decades. Working with in-country partners, Mercy Ships also provides training to local healthcare professionals and supports the construction of in-country medical infrastructure to leave a lasting impact. Each year, more than 2,500 volunteer professionals from over 60 countries serve on board the world's two largest non-governmental hospital ships, the Africa Mercy® and the Global Mercy™. Professionals such as surgeons, dentists, nurses, health trainers, cooks, and engineers dedicate their time and skills to accelerate access to safe surgical and anesthetic care. Mercy Ships was founded in 1978 and has offices in 16 countries as well as an Africa Service Center in Dakar, Senegal. For more information, visit and follow @ MercyShips on social media.
Zawya
10-02-2025
- Health
- Zawya
Mother's Tumor Removed Through a Chance Encounter with Mercy Ships
A 45-year-old woman has had a debilitating, an orange-sized tumor surgically removed from her jaw for free after she was spotted by team workers from international charity Mercy Ships ( in her village in Madagascar. Unable to afford surgery, mother-of-four Marie Elisa had lived with the growing tumor for five years. The condition caused severe weight loss, forced her to stop farming, and left her family struggling financially. What began as a simple toothache at age 40 became relentless pain that drove her to a pharmacy in Berangotra, a village in central Madagascar, where she was given pain relievers. Marie Elisa recalled: 'The painkillers helped for a time. The swelling started, and it just kept getting bigger until it reached this point.' As the tumor grew, she could no longer farm, and her family lost their income. This forced her youngest daughter to drop out of school. "I could no longer work in the fields or sell at the market," she said. "And my daughter had to stop school because I couldn't pay her fees." Every day, Marie Elisa walked to her local church to pray. 'I'm praying to Jesus to be healthy and able to work again,' she explained. Desperate for relief, she turned to traditional healers, but the tumor continued to grow. Though a doctor recommended surgery, the cost was far beyond her means. In January 2024, a patient selection team from Mercy Ships was traveling across Madagascar to find patients for free surgeries aboard the hospital ship Africa Mercy®, docked in Toamasina. During their journey, a cyclone in northern Madagascar disrupted their plans, forcing the team to take an unplanned route. Driving through a small village they had not intended to visit, they noticed a woman with a visible tumor walking by the market—Marie Elisa. 'We saw Marie Elisa walking through the market and three of us yelled, 'Stop the bus!'' recalled Maddy Hartung, an Australian volunteer nurse with the team. They stepped off the bus, weaving through the curious crowd, introducing themselves, and sharing photos of patients who had received life-changing surgery on the ship. 'We explained that we'd seen someone we might be able to help,' Maddy said. 'The whole village turned, pointing at Marie Elisa, rushing over to bring her to meet us.' The team set up a temporary clinic on the village chief's front porch to examine Marie Elisa, explaining the possibility of free surgery. Though initially cautious, she took a leap of faith. 'I was sick and willing to risk it—I had nothing to lose,' she said. Emboldened by the possibility of free healthcare, Marie Elisa mentioned that her husband, Claude, had an eye issue. After the assessment, the team found him eligible for eye surgery. Both were ultimately scheduled for free surgeries on the Africa Mercy, albeit at separate times. 'She was meant to be on that side of the road; God had a plan for her,' Maddy reflected. Marie Elisa traveled for three days to Toamasina to the ship. Due to severe weight loss from the tumor, the doctors put her on a nutrition program to regain strength. Weeks later, she was cleared for surgery. She received care from volunteer crew onboard including UK and US maxillofacial and head and neck surgeons Dr. Leo Cheng and Dr. Gary Parker. Dr. Erik Andersen, a volunteer anesthetic supervisor from Australia, reflected on her case: 'Without surgery, her condition would have worsened, with the mass pressing on her airway and making it hard to breathe or eat.' 'I thank God the tumor was removed and I'm healthy again. The surgery went well, and now I can eat normally without any issues,' Marie Elisa shared eagerly, ready to return home after her successful operation. When Marie Elisa returned home safely, her husband Claude was relieved. 'With her so far away, all I could do was pray,' he recalled. 'I kept saying, 'Oh God, please heal my wife and free her from this illness.'' A few weeks later, it was Claude's turn for surgery to remove a cyst from his left eye—a condition that had affected him for five years. This time, Marie Elisa returned to the ship not as a patient, but as his caregiver. When Claude was discharged, the couple was filled with hope for the future. For Marie Elisa, the thought of returning to her vegetable and potato fields brought excitement. 'When I'm fully recovered and nothing bothers me, I can go back to my former job,' she said. Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Mercy Ships. For more information about Mercy Ships, contact: Sophie Barnett Mercy Ships International PR Manager About Mercy Ships: Mercy Ships operates hospital ships that deliver free surgeries and other healthcare services to those with little access to safe medical care. An international faith-based organization, Mercy Ships has focused entirely on partnering with African nations for the past three decades. Working with in-country partners, Mercy Ships also provides training to local healthcare professionals and supports the construction of in-country medical infrastructure to leave a lasting impact. Each year, more than 2,500 volunteer professionals from over 60 countries serve on board the world's two largest non-governmental hospital ships, the Africa Mercy ® and the Global Mercy ™. Professionals such as surgeons, dentists, nurses, health trainers, cooks, and engineers dedicate their time and skills to accelerate access to safe surgical and anesthetic care. Mercy Ships was founded in 1978 and has offices in 16 countries as well as an Africa Service Center in Dakar, Senegal. For more information, visit and follow @ MercyShips on social media.
