A groundbreaking partnership involving MSC Group, MSC Foundation, and the nonprofit Mercy Ships International is set to initiate the construction of a state-of-the-art hospital ship. This vessel will annually provide free surgeries and training to thousands of individuals across Africa.
On 8 April, Captain Gianluigi Aponte, chairman of MSC Group and MSC Foundation, along with his son Diego Aponte, president of MSC Group and Member of the MSC Foundation Board, and Don Stephens, founder of Mercy Ships, solidified an agreement to launch this transformative project. The MSC Foundation’s initial donation serves as a testament to the leaders’ dedication to ensuring access to vital healthcare for future generations.
“I spent part of my childhood and early years in the shipping industry in the Horn of Africa, it is a region close to my heart. I saw firsthand the challenges faced by many local communities there and this shaped my conviction that improving the availability of healthcare would bring real and lasting impact for them. It has been extremely gratifying to work with Don and provide this crucial support through his unique organisation Mercy Ships, our partnership has reaped extraordinary results already and now we are on the verge of expanding their fleet to increase this support. I truly look forward to seeing this new ship set sail to help more communities across Africa,” stated Captain Aponte, founder of the MSC Group.
Since its establishment in 1978, Mercy Ships has performed over 117,000 life-changing specialized surgical procedures. These interventions encompass a wide range of services, including maxillofacial reconstructions, contracture release for severe burns, orthopaedic corrections in children, cleft lip and palate repair, as well as ophthalmology and dental care.
As a non-governmental organization, Mercy Ships is dedicated to enhancing the capabilities of local healthcare systems through sustainable surgical education, training, and advocacy initiatives. To date, Mercy Ships has provided additional training to more than 54,300 local professionals in various medical fields.
By expanding its fleet with a purpose-built hospital ship, designed with similar specifications as the Global Mercy™ and emphasizing designated training areas, Mercy Ships aims to bolster its capacity for collaborating with host nations on training and advocacy endeavours.
The pressing need to expedite access to surgical care and education in sub-Saharan Africa remains evident. During his welcome speech at the recent West African College of Surgeons (WACS) conference in Freetown, Vice President Mohamed Juldeh Jalloh of Sierra Leone highlighted that the country still grapples with a staggering 91% unmet surgical needs. While acknowledging the strides made thus far, he called for concerted collaborative efforts to address the existing surgical deficits.
“The investment of many around the world towards a fleet of hospital ships will be enhanced by the future of our new purpose-built vessel. The mission of Mercy Ships to bring Hope and Healing is only possible by the generosity of our partners, volunteer crew, and the provision of God. Today, I am grateful to MSC for their support,” stated Don Stephens, founder of Mercy Ships, who confirmed Mercy Ships’ vision for serving African nations with safe surgical care and education.
The upcoming vessel will offer living quarters for approximately 600 crew members and guests. Its hospital facilities will occupy two decks, spanning over 7,000 square meters. These facilities will include six operating rooms, a fully equipped laboratory, and advanced training areas such as a simulation lab. These features enable Mercy Ships to enhance local surgical capabilities during its usual 10-month field service periods while docked in ports.
“This new hospital ship will bring state-of-the-art equipment and facilities to support the nations we serve. This new vessel and her future crew will enable us to meet surgical needs while supporting host nations as they develop healthcare systems with their next generation of medical professionals,” stated Gert van de Weerdhof, CEO of Mercy Ships.
