Latest news with #GlobalMercy
Zawya
12-05-2025
- Health
- Zawya
International Nurses Day: Nurse-Led Team Honored for Bringing Dignified Care and Support To Terminally Ill Patients on Hospital Ship in Africa
The compassionate care of a team of palliative care nurses from the United States and the Netherlands and two crew members from Sierra Leone are the first recipients of the Mercy Ships DAISY Team Award, a collaboration between international charity Mercy Ships ( and the DAISY Foundation™. The team serves on board the Global Mercy ™ hospital ship currently docked in Sierra Leone, West Africa. The DAISY Team Award honors collaboration by a nurse-led team of two or more people who identify and meet patient and/or patient family needs by going above and beyond the traditional role of nursing. This is the first time the award has been presented to a nurse-led team serving on a hospital ship in Africa and will be given each year on International Nurses Day to honor and celebrate the work of Mercy Ships' volunteer nurse-led teams. As part of the Palliative Care team, these individuals provide comfort and support to terminally ill patients whose conditions fall outside the scope of surgical intervention, demonstrating extraordinary compassion for those facing incurable illness. The interdisciplinary team consists of: Maria Brown – United States (Minneapolis, Minnesota) Renae Kramer – United States (Billings, Montana) Willianne Kramer – Netherlands (Urk) Samuel Tamba Essah – Sierra Leone (Konyomadu, Kailahun District) Gloria Cobba – Sierra Leone (Moyamba district) In recognizing the team for the award, Tami Honnen, Director of Nursing for Mercy Ships, cited their extraordinary compassion, resilience, and holistic approach to providing care. 'This team is an astounding joy to know as they go well beyond traditional palliative care efforts,' said Honnen. 'Peers that nominated them indicate they share faith in a tangible, loving way despite the most heartbreaking situations. Their efforts extend beyond medical and emotional support by helping families recover from the economic impact of illness.' An international faith-based organization, Mercy Ships has focused entirely on partnering with nations in Africa for the past three decades, delivering surgery to those that have little access to safe medical care. Working with in-country partners, Mercy Ships also provides training to local healthcare professionals and supports the medical infrastructure of these nations to leave a lasting impact. 'The nurse-led team recognized with this award includes two crew members, Samuel Tamba Essah and Gloria Cobba from Sierra Leone, who also play a vital role in the palliative care team in helping patients and families navigate some of life's most difficult moments with dignity and compassion,' said Honnen. 'With backgrounds in humanitarian work, advocacy, and counselling, they each bring deep cultural awareness and local insight to the palliative care team's holistic approach.' Bonnie Barnes, co-founder of the DAISY Foundation, said, 'Being able to honor and celebrate an extraordinary international team like Maria, Renae, Willianne, Samuel, and Gloria is a dream come true for us at DAISY. What they and so many others serving on Mercy Ships provide is the essence of compassionate nursing care that we created The DAISY Award to recognize. We are deeply proud that Mercy Ships has chosen The DAISY Award to express gratitude to their extraordinary teams who care for such vulnerable patients and families.' About this year's award recipients: Maria Brown specializes in medical-surgical and hospice nursing, providing holistic care that addresses patients' physical, emotional, and spiritual needs. Maria has experience as a Registered Nurse (RN) in hospice and medical-surgical units, as well as a certified nursing assistant in long-term and memory care. Her skills include patient and family education, end-of-life care, and interdisciplinary collaboration. She is certified as an RN and public health nurse by the Minnesota Board of Nursing. She earned a Bachelor of Science in Nursing from Concordia University. Renae Kramer has more than 30 years of experience in nursing and emergency medical services. Renae has worked in healthcare settings across Montana, Nebraska, Minnesota, and North Dakota, providing comprehensive patient care, managing nursing teams, and coordinating care for geriatric and transplant patients. Renae holds an Associate of Arts in Nursing and an EMT-B license from Flatwood Valley Community College. She graduated from the Licensed Practical Nursing program at Red Wing Technical College. Willianne Kramer has diverse experience in homecare, nursing homes, high dependency care, psychiatry, and general surgery. She completed internships in Israel and the Netherlands, worked in specialized homecare and palliative care, and plans to further her expertise in hospice or oncology. Willianne holds a bachelor's degree in nursing (level 6) from Hoornbeeck College te Kampe and a first aid certificate for adults and children. Samuel Tamba Essah has been involved with Mercy Ships since 2001. He has held land-based roles, worked with patient selection, and has served on the Anastasis, the Africa Mercy®, and the Global Mercy. He started working as national crew for the Palliative Care team during the last field service and calls it a blessing. He has a diploma in motor vehicle engineering and has been involved in humanitarian work since 1999. Passionate about advocacy, he was part of a mission that engaged rural communities with gender awareness outreach and a mission that distributed food supplies to rural communities after the war in Sierra Leone. Gloria Cobba works with the Palliative Care team as national crew. Her first degree is in logistics and procurement while her second, and most recent, is in guidance and counselling. She has over a decade of active humanitarian and research work experience. She has served with different NGOs; reaching different provinces in Sierra Leone, carrying out surveys, and partaking in projects that impact lives. She joined Mercy Ships in 2023 and really enjoys working with the Palliative Care team. Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Mercy Ships. About Mercy Ships: Mercy Ships operates hospital ships that deliver free surgeries and 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 volunteers 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, more information, visit and follow @ MercyShips on social media. About the DAISY Foundation: The DAISY Foundation is a nonprofit organization serving the nursing profession through recognition programs as well as grants for nursing research, evidence-based practice, medical missions, and continuing education. The DAISY Foundation was created in 1999 in memory of the extraordinary nursing care provided to J. Patrick Barnes during his eight-week hospitalization for idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura, an auto-immune disease. His family's drive to say 'thank you' to nurses for the compassionate and skillful care they provide daily has evolved to play a strategic role in healthcare organizations by providing unique, meaningful, and impactful recognition that benefits nurses and their work organizations. Today, more than 7,300 healthcare facilities and nursing schools are committed to honoring nurses in 43 countries.
Yahoo
09-04-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
A nonprofit is turning old cruise ships into floating hospitals — complete with operating rooms, pools, and family cabins
Nonprofit Mercy Ships converts cruise ships into floating hospitals. Its first ship was an Italian cruiseliner, while another was previously a train ferry. Its newest ship, Global Mercy, was built for the nonprofit — a $200 million project. Not all cruise ships are created equal. Instead of vacationers, some accommodate Olympic surfers, refugees, or, as is the case of Mercy Ships' two vessels, folks in need of surgery. Since 1978, Christian nonprofit Mercy Ships has operated a fleet of cruise ships turned floating hospitals, providing complimentary medical services to the countries they visit. Onboard, reminders of the vessels' past life, like pools and hair salons, remain in place. Instead of waterslides and theater shows, the ships now have schools, operating rooms, CT scanners, and ICU beds. Mercy Ships has operated 5 vessels in its 47 years. The first was a converted Italian cruise liner. The decision to use floating resorts was based on a simple fact: 40% of the world's population lives on a coastline. "Coastal, rural cities have high medical deserts because they face extreme isolation and lack of infrastructure," Kerry Peterson, the senior vice president of Mercy Ship's US office, told Business Insider in an email. The nonprofit provides its patients with dental care and seven surgery specialties, such as pediatric and women's health — all for free. Food, lodging, anesthesia, post-operation rehabilitation, and transportation are also complimentary, even if more than one operation is required. In addition, the ships also offer specialized postgraduate training to locals through partnered residencies, fellowships, and rotations. Mercy Ships currently has 2 vessels, Africa Mercy and Global Mercy. According to Peterson, the nonprofit provided 4,746 surgeries and 13,312 dental procedures and trained more than 900 healthcare workers in 2024. Both ships exclusively operate in African nations. Like any typical cruise liner, Africa and Global Mercy have an auditorium, pool, library, café, and store. But instead of operating as vacations at sea, the two ships are more "akin to floating cities," Peterson said, noting there are onboard mechanical and carpentry shops, post office, bank, gym, salon, and laundromat. The nonprofit received a donation in early 2024 to fund the construction of a new vessel. Its first ship, Africa Mercy, was previously a train ferry before finding a second life. Mercy Ships acquired the Danish vessel, then known as Dronning Ingrid, in 1999. Following a $62 million refurbishment, it was re-deployed as Africa Mercy in 2007. According to the nonprofit, as of June 2024, the floating hospital had performed more than 70,910 surgeries in countries such as Liberia, South Africa, Sierra Leone, Madagascar, and Cameroon. The 12,917-square-foot deck that once accommodated trains now serves as the hospital. The space includes a pharmacy, a radiology lab, five operating rooms, 75 acute care beds, and five ICU beds. In addition to patient beds, Africa Mercy also has 159 cabins for 470 crew, although it sees about 1,000 volunteers — from surgeons to plumbers to housekeepers — throughout the year. Accommodation options include dorm-style cabins and rooms for couples and families. The second ship, Global Mercy, was built for the nonprofit. Mercy Ships began construction on its newest addition, Global Mercy, in 2015 — a $200 million investment, including the cost of equipment and the first patients. The nonprofit touts the 571-foot-long vessel, launched in 2022, as the largest civilian hospital vessel in the world. Larger than its predecessor, Global Mercy has 75,347 square feet of hospital space, including 102 acute care and seven ICU beds — in addition to a simulation lab for its training program. It provides surgical care to about 1,500 patients annually, having so far served patients in Senegal, The Gambia, and Sierra Leone. Global Mercy has 277 staterooms that can accommodate 640 crew. Its solo, double, couple, family, guest, and VIP cabins see about 1,500 volunteers annually. Peterson said Mercy Ships encourages its volunteers to explore the countries during their free time, whether grabbing dinner in town or staying overnight onshore — harkening back to the perks of a traditional cruise line. Read the original article on Business Insider
Zawya
20-02-2025
- Health
- Zawya
Venomous Snake Bite Leaves Arm Unusable: Boy waits Seven Years for Life-Changing Surgery
An 11-year-old boy from Sierra Leone can finally go to school and use his right arm again after his severely deformed limb was operated on by international health charity, Mercy Ships ( Without the free surgery, Yusif's right hand and arm would have remained severely contracted, leaving him unable to use them. Yusif was five years old when he was bitten by a venomous snake while playing football with his friends. The snake left fang marks on his hand and a stabbing pain spreading up from his hand to his elbow. Within minutes, Yusif's whole arm was bruised and blistered. Yusif's mother, Mariama, did all she could to find medical help. But there was no ambulance from his rural village near Mariba Town, Southern District. Instead, a traditional healer gave Yusif herbs to swallow. 'Different snake bites cause different reactions,' explains Mercy Ships volunteer surgeon, Tertius Venter, who operated on Yusif. 'This type is local, so it doesn't spread into the rest of the body, but it causes all the tissue in the area to die. 'With appropriate, early treatment, and antibiotics to stop infection, the limb could have been saved. But in Yusif's case, he did not have access to proper treatment, so it caused widespread tissue death and infection. His body then shed the dead tissue and the healthy tissue from the sides grew together to close the wound. During that process, the joints were pulled in opposite directions causing a severely deformed limb.' Despite the lack of funds, Mariama did not give up and eventually saved enough money to take Yusif to a hospital in Sierra Leone. The doctors looked at his arm, so bent and blistered, and said they must amputate. 'The doctor saw Yusif's hand and said that the hand must be cut off,' explains Mariama. 'I refused not to cut Yusif's hand.' But it was not easy watching her son grow up with a painful, unusable arm. Mariama explains that she often cried seeing her son struggling. 'Yusif felt ashamed and became very shy,' Mariama says. 'He would hide his arm inside his shirt all the time, so it started to bend that way.' In 2023, Mariama heard that the Mercy Ship, the Global Mercy, would be arriving in Sierra Leone, providing free, life-changing surgeries to women, men and children unable to access healthcare. The 174m, 37,000 GT Global Mercy is the world's largest charity hospital ship. Fitted with state-of-the-art facilities including operating theatres, recovery wards, intensive care, a pharmacy, and low-dependency wards, the volunteer medical crew have performed over 4,000 surgical procedures on board since September 2023. From life-threatening tumour removals, to cleft lips, the results for each individual were life-changing. On 18th October 2023, Yusif underwent a complex three-hour operation on board the Global Mercy to release the contracture on his elbow and wrist. A second, follow-up surgery on 8th November, concluded the operations. Mariama was overjoyed when she saw the transformation in her son and the smiles on his face. 'Mercy Ships has done a great job for our family,' says Mariama. 'God made it possible through them so we are grateful. When I saw Yusif's hand straight, I was so happy seeing my son. We both hugged ourselves with beautiful smiles. Then Yusif said, 'Mummy, see my hand.' Following the surgeries, Yusif began a long and often painful process of rehabilitation on board the Global Mercy with volunteer hand therapists. For three months the team worked closely with Yusif to help him gain control of his elbow, wrist and fingers. 'I feel good now,' says Yusif. 'I was not able to do anything before with my hand, but now I can do everything. I can help my mum, I can play football, and go to school without feeling ashamed.' Now, with a strong right arm, Yusif can return to school and confidently look ahead to a future of possibilities. 'I want to become a doctor,' says Yusif. 'Because I want to help people like how Mercy Ships helped me.' 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
30-01-2025
- Health
- Zawya
Hospital Ship Global Mercy™ to Stay in Sierra Leone until June 2026
The Ministry of Health of Sierra Leone and international charity Mercy Ships ( have reaffirmed their partnership, announcing that the Global Mercy ™ hospital ship will remain in Freetown through June 2026. This marks the charity's third consecutive field service in Sierra Leone and its eighth visit to the country since 1992, underscoring a shared commitment between the two parties in ensuring access to life-changing surgical healthcare for those who need it most. In addition, an extension to the protocol agreement has also been signed reflecting a deepened collaboration between Mercy Ships and the Sierra Leonean government to support lasting change in the country's healthcare system through 2030—long after the ship is due to depart in 2026. Since its arrival in Freetown in August 2023, the Global Mercy – the world's largest purpose-built civilian hospital ship – has provided over 2,470 free surgeries and trained more than 230 healthcare professionals. These efforts align with Sierra Leone's national healthcare priorities to improve access to essential surgical care and build capacity within the healthcare workforce. The protocol addendum was signed by Dr. Austin Demby, Minister of Health, and Mr. Timothy Musa Kabba, Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, both of whom emphasised the trust and collaboration underpinning this partnership. Dr. Demby said: "I think what Mercy Ships has demonstrated is what empathy does for you in the service of people. You see it in the smiles, not just of the patients, but of the patients' families and relatives who come to witness the transformation in their loved ones." Mr. Kabba, Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, added: "Over the next five years, we are hopeful that the number of beneficiaries will increase, and that Sierra Leoneans will be made wholesome to pursue their God-given opportunities." Dr. Sandra Lako, Mercy Ships Sierra Leone Country Director, said: 'We are delighted to continue providing life-changing surgeries and training on board the ship for a further 10 months. In addition, our 5-year agreement with the government of Sierra Leone affirms our joint commitment to make a long-lasting impact on the surgical care system, and we look forward to seeing the ripple effect this sustained partnership brings.' Mercy Ships partners with the Ministry of Health and the University of Sierra Leone to foster long-term developments for the country's surgical care system. Educational initiatives include sponsoring Sierra Leonean dental students at the Université Gamal Abdel Nasser de Conakry in Guinea, with graduates committed to bolstering Sierra Leone's limited dental workforce. Training programs for nurses have focused on perioperative care, anaesthesia, and sterile processing. In 2024, Mercy Ships received accreditation from the West African College of Surgeons, allowing surgical and anesthesia residents to undertake placements aboard the Global Mercy to complement their in-country training programs. Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Mercy Ships. Media contact: Mercy Ships Sophie Barnett Mercy Ships International PR Manager Email: Website: Sierra Leone Ministry of Health Abdul S. Brima/James T. Kallay Email: communications@ Website: Visit for more information.
