About Mercy Ships
Mercy Ships is an international faith-based
organization working in low- and middle-income countries in Africa. Mercy Ships deploys hospital ships to provide direct medical care to patients with unmet surgical needs and works with host nations to strengthen existing health systems and improve access to quality healthcare for all. As many as 5 billion people lack access to safe, affordable, and timely surgical and anesthesia care worldwide. Of the 313 million surgical procedures undertaken globally each year, only 6% occur in the poorest countries, where over
a third of the world’s population live. Since Mercy Ships was established in 1978, more than 2.86 million people have benefited from the services provided. Mercy Ships continues to
partner with countries to bring hope and healing to those without access to safe surgical care.
The organization supports its hospital ships through:
1. The International Support Center
in Garden Valley, Texas, USA (home of both the US national office and
Mercy Ships Operations). This location houses executive offices, marine operations,
human resources, warehousing, finance, logistics and information services, and oversees the work of the Mercy Ships Africa Bureau in Cotonou, Benin.
2. Mercy Ships Global Association headquartered in Lausanne, Switzerland (international coordination).
3. Mercy Ships national offices
in Australia, Belgium, Canada, Denmark, France, Germany, Holland (including European Distribution Center), Norway, New Zealand, Spain, South Africa, South Korea, Sweden, Switzerland, the
United Kingdom, and the USA.
Founder & History
While living in Lausanne, Switzerland, Don and Deyon Stephens began a journey that led to the founding
of Mercy Ships. Don formed and led a team that surveyed suitable ocean liners for the dream of a hospital ship to serve those without access to safe surgical care. In 1978, the dream became a reality with the purchase of the first ship, the Anastasis. Another milestone was reached in 2007 with the launching of the Africa Mercy®, and again in 2021 with the addition of the Global Mercy®,
the organization’s first purpose-built ship, to the fleet.
Don, Deyon, and their four children lived on board the first Mercy Ship for 10 years. Now based in the USA, they continue to inspire the staff and crew toward the future. They have overseen the
growth of Mercy Ships from its humble beginnings to an organization in which tens of thousands of professional volunteers have served. Don is on the Mercy Ships International Board which has 33 active and 2 emeritus members from 9 nations.
Ships and Field Programs
The Africa Mercy and the Global Mercy are the world’s largest non-governmental hospital ships and
are dedicated to serving the continent of Africa. As many as 1,550 volunteers from 60 nations serve on board our fleet in a normal year.
Programs & Services
Mercy Ships works with host nations to strengthen the local healthcare delivery system while serving their surgical needs. Mercy Ships provides a variety of training opportunities for medical professionals (surgeons, nurses, anesthesia providers, administrators, medical technicians, and engineers). Collaborating with qualified local and international partners, Mercy Ships facilitates and supports holistic programs in host nations. Mercy Ships has provided services and materials in low- and middle- income countries valued at over $1.77 billion, including the following:
• Performed more than 108,000 lifesaving and life-changing surgical procedures such as cleft-lip and palate repair, cataract removal, orthopedic, facial reconstruction, burn contracture release, pediatric, general, and obstetric fistula repair.
• Performed over 521,000 dental procedures
for over 197,000 dental patients.
• Trained more than 6,680 local professionals, who have in turn trained many others.
• Trained over 50,300 local professionals in their area of expertise (anesthesiology, surgery, nursing, biomedical engineering, instrument Sterilization, trauma, leadership).
• Taught over 268,000 local people in basic healthcare.
• Completed over 1,115 infrastructure development projects.
Finances
Funding for Mercy Ships is provided primarily through private donations, foundations, and socially responsible corporations. Volunteers serving on the ships and in the field contribute not only their professional skills but also monthly fees to cover their costs. This enables Mercy Ships to deliver medical and development services for a fraction of the usual cost.
