The hospital ship Africa Mercy sailed today from Granadilla port, bound for Dakar, Senegal, on its long-awaited return to Africa, where the ship’s crew will spend the rest of this year fulfilling the promise of reconnecting with patients who could not be operated on the ship when the coronavirus pandemic began. the COVID-19.
For 22 months, the Africa Mercy has remained in the Canary Islands during the COVID-19 pandemic and has taken advantage of the time to carry out maintenance and preparation tasks to be able to resume its mission, through our crew of volunteer, surgical and emergency aid workers. training for health professionals in Africa.
After the departure of the ship, the president of Mercy Ships, in Spain, Mercy Ships, Gerardo Vangioni, will organize an act of thanks to those who have supported Africa Mercy and her crew during the last 22 months.
“During the event, ships of hope will express its sincere gratitude for the support received in Spain, and specifically in Tenerife, to the Africa Mercy hospital ship and its crew during this time in the Canary Islands. Many people, institutions and companies have collaborated, provided services and assistance during the hospital ship’s stay in Tenerife and Gran Canaria. All of them continue to be a great support for Mercy Ships, and their commitment is a guarantee for the future of Mercy Ships and the people of all the nations we serve”, declared Vangioni.
Since March 2020, after the ship had to conclude its medical services in West Africa and searched for a safe port, the Africa Mercy was welcomed by the Port of Granadilla, on the island of Tenerife. With the support of Puertos de Tenerife and local authorities, the ship and its crew were able to remain docked in the port indefinitely. The ship was in Granadilla for the first 13 months, while maintenance and repair work was carried out, before going to Las Palmas de Gran Canaria to carry out four months of work in the shipyards. Then, last October, the ship returned to Granadilla for final preparations before heading back to Africa.
“Our shipboard community has faced many challenges since we arrived. We are deeply moved and encouraged by the generosity of our friends here in Tenerife. We are very grateful to the many who have supported and met our needs as a community during this waiting period,” said Bernard van den Bosch, General Manager of the Africa Mercy hospital ship.
All the generous support received has been vital to see this day as the Africa Mercy returns to Senegal to offer hope and healing to those in need. “More than 1,000 patients have already been selected for the surgical programs, with priority given to patients already identified since the ship’s last visit,” van den Bosch said.
In the last 30 years, Mercy Ships has worked in 14 African countries to offer free surgeries, medical training projects and health infrastructure development.
The Naves de Esperanza hospital ships will continue to come to the Canary Islands each year for inspection and maintenance once the 10-month project periods in Africa have finished.
ships of hope
Mercy Ships uses hospital ships to provide free, world-class health services, hospital infrastructure and sustainable development for those with little access in the developing world. Founded in 1978 by Don and Deyon Stephens, Mercy Ships has worked in more than 55 developing countries, providing services valued at more than 1,500 million euros and directly benefiting more than 2.8 million people. Our ships are manned by volunteers from more than 60 countries, with an average of more than 1,200 volunteers each year. Professionals such as surgeons, dentists, nurses, health care educators, teachers, cooks, sailors, engineers, and farmers donate their time and skills. Mercy Ships seeks to transform people and serve nations.
