SAVANNAH, GEORGIA, MAY 6, 2025: A surgeon who spent nearly four decades volunteering to provide free, life-changing surgical care to underserved populations while living on a Mercy Ships hospital ship has been honored with a prestigious award. Dr. Gary Parker, 72, has...
From Melbourne to Mercy Ships: A Nurse’s Journey Born and raised in Melbourne, Australia, Ayla always had an adventurous spirit and a passion for helping others. With 42 countries visited, her journey as a nurse took a...
Living with a Cleft Lip in Madagascar For 22 years, Joseph lived with a cleft lip — a condition that left him feeling isolated and overlooked. In his small village in Madagascar, medical care was scarce, and access to surgery was simply out of reach. “I always feel...
As 22-year-old farmer Joseph neared the end of a 12-hour walk towards the Africa Mercy®, docked in Madagascar's port city of Toamasina, he was reminded of the many years of social isolation he had suffered due to his cleft lip. "If I had friends, I wouldn't have...
In one of Madagascar’s largest rice-producing regions, 9-year-old Annica dreams of one day becoming a teacher. She loves basketball and thrives in subjects like Mathematics, Geography, and French, and she At home, she’s the life of the party, playing lively games with...
Through its Education, Training, and Advocacy (ETA) programs, Mercy Ships is helping build skills among emerging and trained professionals committed to enhancing surgical care in Sierra Leone. In a landmark moment for Sierra Leone’s healthcare system, the country’s...