The hospital ship Africa Mercy has set sail for Dakar, Senegal, on its long-awaited return to Africa, where the ship's crew will spend the rest of this year fulfilling their promise to reconnect with patients who could not be operated on the ship when the Covid-19 pandemic began.
For 22 months the Africa Mercy has remained in the Canary Islands during the Covid-19 pandemic and has used the time to carry out maintenance tasks and preparations to be able to resume its mission, through our crew of volunteer aid workers, surgical and training of health professionals in Africa.
Following the ship's departure, the president of Mercy Ships in Spain, Naves de Esperanza, Gerardo Vangioni, will organize an event to thank those who have supported the Africa Mercy and its 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, by the hospital ship Africa Mercy and its crew during their time in the Canary Islands. Many individuals, institutions, and companies have collaborated, provided services, and offered assistance during the hospital ship’s stay in Tenerife and Gran Canaria. They all continue to be a great support to Ships of Hope, and their commitment is a guarantee for the future of Ships of Hope and the people of all the nations we serve,” stated Vangioni.
Since March 2020, after the ship had to complete its medical services in West Africa and seek a safe port, the Africa Mercy was welcomed by the Port of Granadilla on the island of Tenerife. With the support of Ports of Tenerife and local authorities, the ship and its crew were able to remain docked indefinitely. The ship stayed in Granadilla for the first 13 months while maintenance and repairs were carried out, before going to Las Palmas de Gran Canaria for four months of work in the shipyards. Then, last October, the ship returned to Granadilla for final preparations before returning to Africa.
“Our onboard community has faced many challenges since we arrived. We have been deeply moved and heartened 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, Managing Director of the hospital ship Africa Mercy.
All the generous support received has been vital to seeing this day when 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 surgical programs, with priority given to those identified since the ship’s last visit,” said van den Bosch.
For the past 30 years, Ships of Hope has worked in 14 African countries providing free surgeries, medical training programs, and healthcare infrastructure development. Ships of Hope's hospital ships will continue to visit the Canary Islands annually for overhaul and maintenance after completing their 10-month projects in Africa.
