Mercy Ships has started a ten-month medical mission in Ghana, with up to 2,600 surgical procedures planned alongside dental treatment and training programs for local healthcare professionals
The hospital ship Global Mercy has begun surgical operations in the port of Tema, Ghana, marking the start of a ten-month healthcare mission combining direct patient treatment with medical education and capacity building.
Operated by the international humanitarian organization Mercy Ships, the vessel will remain in Tema until June 2027. During this period, medical teams expect to perform between 1,900 and 2,600 surgical procedures and provide approximately 1,600 to 2,000 dental treatments. Services are provided to patients free of charge.
Five surgical specialties offered on board
Treatment aboard the Global Mercy covers several areas in which access to specialist care can be limited. Surgical services include oral and maxillofacial surgery, pediatric orthopedics, ophthalmic surgery, plastic and reconstructive surgery, and general surgery.
Among the first patients treated during the current mission was a 59-year-old man from Ghana’s Ashanti Region who had lost his sight following cataracts. A five-year-old child with a leg deformity was also among the early surgical patients.
Ghana seeks to expand access to specialist care
Ghana has been working to strengthen surgical, obstetric and anesthesia services through its national healthcare strategy. However, access to timely surgical treatment remains difficult for parts of the population because of costs, travel distances and shortages of specialist medical personnel.
The Global Mercy program is therefore designed to extend beyond the treatment provided during the ship’s stay. International medical professionals and volunteers will work alongside Ghanaian doctors, nurses and other healthcare specialists throughout the mission.
Mercy Ships is also cooperating with national institutions including the Ghana College of Physicians and Surgeons and the Ghana College of Nurses and Midwives.
Training designed to create a lasting impact
Medical education and professional training form an important part of the program. By sharing surgical expertise and supporting local healthcare professionals, the organization aims to strengthen treatment capacity after the hospital ship leaves Ghana.
The current deployment represents Mercy Ships’ fifth mission to the country. The organization first worked in Ghana in 1991.
According to Mercy Ships, its previous programs in cooperation with Ghanaian authorities and healthcare partners have resulted in 2,670 surgical procedures and more than 18,120 dental treatments. More than 2,920 Ghanaian healthcare professionals have also received training through the organization’s programs.
The latest deployment continues this long-term cooperation while combining international medical assistance with efforts to expand Ghana’s own specialist healthcare capacity.
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