A 43-year-old man from Freetown, Sierra Leone, underwent surgery aboard the Global Mercy, the world’s largest civilian hospital ship, to remove a facial tumor. Emmanuel, a father of one, initially mistook the small lump in his mouth for a toothache or a cold sore. However, it continued to grow despite medication, causing him constant worry about potential complications. The surgery, performed by American International Chief Medical Officer Dr. Mark Shrime and Swiss oral and maxillofacial surgeon Dr. Didier-David Malis, took place at the Port of Freetown following the ship’s recent arrival. The Global Mercy plans to perform over 2,350 surgeries during its 10-month stay in Freetown.
Sierra Leone currently lacks fully certified maxillofacial specialist surgeons, making the assistance provided by Mercy Ships vital for complex surgeries like Emmanuel’s. The Global Mercy serves not only as a hospital but also as a training center, aiming to train over 200 healthcare professionals in various surgical education courses during its stay. This marks the sixth time that a Mercy Ship has visited Sierra Leone since 1992. In addition to surgical care, the ship also offers mentoring and training to strengthen the local healthcare system.