Identical Twin Nurses have Patients Seeing Double on Hospital Ship in Madagascar
Identical twin nurses from Germany — who volunteer on board the Africa Mercy® and work together at the same hospital in Switzerland — often have patients thinking they are seeing double.
Sisters Ruth and Tabea Nusser, from Friedrichshafen on Lake Constance, are used to patients confusing them during their day jobs at Kantonsspital Baden, where they work opposite shifts.
The story is much the same on board the Africa Mercy, docked off the coast of Toamasina, Madagascar, where 31-year-old Ruth and Tabea are currently volunteering with Mercy Ships for their third time.
The twins not only look alike but also share the same mission: bringing hope and healing to people without access to medical care. Tabea felt called to nursing at the age of eight, while Ruth discovered her passion at 16.
A Higher Calling for Two Nurses
Ruth and Tabea view nursing as a calling, so their decision to join Mercy Ships was clear.
They wanted to be part of this important mission. Mercy Ships provides free surgeries and medical training to countries where people have little access to safe or affordable surgery. Today, the twins were on board for the third time after their last deployment seven years ago.
Though their parents initially struggled with the idea of their daughters serving so far from home, they came to understand the deep meaning volunteering holds for Ruth and Tabea. Friends and family have become inspired by their dedication, offering encouragement despite the distance.
“Many find it inspiring that, after so many years, we’re setting out again to contribute to Mercy Ships.” said Ruth.
Working on a hospital ship in Madagascar offers Ruth and Tabea a unique experience. “I’m especially grateful to be here with my twin sister,” said Ruth. “We both work in the same emergency room in Switzerland, and it was a privilege to get leave at the same time.”
For Tabea, being back on the Africa Mercy feels like a unique fulfillment. “Having the chance to provide medical care to people who would otherwise have no access to it reminds me of Jesus’s call to care for the most vulnerable,” she said.
Transformation Beyond the Physical
The gratitude of their patients deeply touches Ruth and Tabea. The contrast with their work in Switzerland is striking; care on board the Africa Mercy goes beyond just the physical.
“The fact that pastoral care plays such an important role here, supporting patients emotionally as well as physically, makes a big difference,” said Ruth. “I’ll never forget the moment when patients leave the ship with a smile, transformed and strengthened.”
The blending of different cultures and backgrounds adds to the unique atmosphere on board. Whether they are nurses, surgeons, or local workers, everyone collaborates harmoniously. Ruth and Tabea find special joy in the shared moments on the deck, where patients and crew come together to sing, play, and dance.
These are the moments that give them the strength and happiness to keep going.
Forever Changed by Mercy Ships
The experiences Ruth and Tabea have had during their time volunteering will stay with them forever. In 2016, Ruth worked at the Freedom from Fistula Centre, a project born out of the Mercy Ships Women’s Centre. Here, women suffering from obstetric fistulas, often caused by difficult births and resulting in incontinence, can receive treatment.
For most women in Madagascar, such an operation is unaffordable, which often leads to social exclusion. Witnessing the strength and gratitude of these women — especially the stories of children who, despite their challenging past, can laugh and play again — deeply affects the sisters.
“I often think of a 70-year-old patient who said goodbye to each staff member with a smile and a hug after her surgery,” said Tabea. “The stories of these people, their resilience, and gratitude constantly remind me of how important this work is.”
Returning together has also brought the twins closer. “From the beginning, we wanted to go through this time together,” said Tabea. “It’s a blessing to have someone by your side who truly knows you.”
Their similarities even lead to lighthearted moments of confusion. Reflecting on a recent memory, Ruth said, “A few days ago, I had the late shift and arrived a bit early. Tabea was standing with her back to the entrance giving medicine to a little patient who was crying. An older patient watched us curiously, looking back and forth between Tabea and myself. When Tabea turned around, the patient asked if we were twins. We laughed, and the two of them beamed at me throughout my entire shift.”
Whether at their hospital in Switzerland or on board the Africa Mercy, the Nusser twins bring joy, care, and a little confusion wherever they go.
Changing lives for the better is the most rewarding experience. If you want to join as a volunteer, like Ruth and Tabea, learn how here.
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