About Mercy Ships
Mercy Ships: bringing hope and healing
Each year, over 16.9 million people around the world die due to lack of access to surgical care. Mercy Ships deploys hospital ships to provide free surgeries.
Mercy Ships is a faith-based international organization that deploys the world’s largest civilian hospital ships to deliver life-changing, free surgical care to people in need across partnering African nations. In addition to providing safe, free surgical care, Mercy Ships is committed to improving local healthcare systems in Africa through training, mentoring, and infrastructure projects.
The organization’s hospital ships, the Africa Mercy and the Global Mercy, are staffed by volunteers from around the world, as well as local crew from each host nation. Mercy Ships also has 16 national offices around the world! As a charity, the work of Mercy Ships is made possible by donations and gifts-in-kind from donors and corporate partners.
Founded in 1978 by Don and Deyon Stephens, Mercy Ships has worked in more than 55 countries, providing services valued at more than USD 1.3 billion. By improving healthcare delivery in every country it visits, Mercy Ships is working to eradicate the diseases of poverty and effectively do itself out of a job.
In sub-Saharan Africa, up to 69% of people live on less than USD 2 a day. Healthcare in these countries either doesn't exist or is unaffordable to the vast majority of the population.
Who is Mercy Ships?
Since 1978, Mercy Ships has delivered services to more than 2.8 million beneficiaries, including medical, construction, and spiritual services beneficiaries. Mercy Ships has provided services and materials in developing countries valued at over $1.85 billion, including the following:
Vessels of Hope and Healing
