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Mercy Ships marked more than 30 years of service in Africa with a week full of celebrations in Senegal.

Mercy Ships marked more than 30 years of service in Africa with a week full of celebrations in Senegal.

Mercy Ships marked more than 30 years of service in Africa with a week full of celebrations in Senegal.

Mercy Ships marked more than 30 years of service in Africa with a week full of celebrations in Senegal.

Mercy Ships marked more than 30 years of service in Africa with a week full of celebrations in Senegal.

Strengthening Surgical Care in Africa: Several Heads of State sign the "Dakar Declaration" aboard the brand new Global Mercy™

Posidonia Exhibitions SA have recently announced the tie-up with Mercy Ships, which has Cargo Day represented at Posidonia 2022.

The global shipping and trading community has once again rallied behind hospital vessel charity Mercy Ships’ annual Cargo Day fundraiser.

The global shipping and trading community has once again rallied behind hospital vessel charity Mercy Ships’ annual Cargo Day fundraiser.

The global shipping and trading community has once again rallied behind hospital vessel charity Mercy Ships’ annual Cargo Day fundraiser.

New hospital ship set for outfitting in Belgium before starting field service in sub-Sahara Africa

Purpose-built Global Mercy will sail from China to Belgium for final outfitting before heading to Africa to take up its medical mission in 2022

Key figures behind the building of the world’s largest civilian hospital ship headline at global maritime industry digital conference A new chapter is about to be written  for Mercy Ships with its first purpose-built hospital vessel nearing completion. Don’t miss the opportunity to listen to the story of how this unique project  came to life by

The global shipping and trading community has joined together to raise much-needed funds for Mercy Ships, which provides free medical care for people in Africa. This year’s campaign has raised so far more than $680,000. That is all thanks to the generosity of: 25 charterers, 21 shipowners, 25 shipbrokers, 13 port agents/consulting and services. In

Global event hopes to raise SGD 1m for charities in Singapore and beyond If you have ever wanted to walk, run or cycle around the world, now is your chance to be at least a small part of just that.Singapore’s Eastern Pacific Shipping is appealing to its friends in the industry to collectively pull up

Wednesday 4 November is focus of efforts to raise funds this month for Africa hospital ships charity taking delivery of its first ever purpose-built newbuilding, Global Mercy Cargo Day is here. Wednesday 4 November is the focal point of a push over the next few weeks to raise funds for the Mercy Ships charity which

­­Double the trouble, twice the joy Due to lack of proper nutrition, conditions like that of Ousseynou and Assane are not uncommon in nations we serve. Through direct surgical care and a focus on training local agricultural trainers, Mercy Ships desires to treat the effect and the cause of many of the conditions we see

Mercy Ships anuncia Cargo Day 2020 La ONG Mercy Ships, Naves de Esperanza en España, ha anunciado que el próximo día 4 de noviembre tendrá lugar Cargo Day 2020.  Mercy Ships utiliza buques hospitales para ofrecer servicios de salud gratuitos, infraestructura hospitalaria y desarrollo sostenible para aquellos con poco acceso en el mundo en desarrollo.

Fundraising from fixtures is vital for Mercy Ships to return to its mission bringing medical aid to Africa with its first custom-built hospital ship More than $3m raised from cargo commissions has helped many people receive surgery that they would never otherwise have had. In a video, Mercy Ships Executive Director Bryce Wagner has highlighted

Fundraisers hope to match or better last year’s $1.3m this November — as new ship doubles medical capacity but also operating costs Mercy Ship’s newbuilding hospital vessel’s total cost of almost $200m has largely been raised from private donations, but the $20m annual operating costs have still to be found. The charity’s Cargo Day, which

If twice as many companies were to back medical charity, each one would have to give only half as much to help fund operations of its hospital ships Mercy Ships, the charity that takes ­medical care to African countries in hospital ships, will soon be able to help many more people when it receives its

THE GLOBAL MERCY: Mercy Ships’ newbuilding changes births after being painted at Tianjin Xingang Shipyard The $200m Global Mercy will double the capacity for charity Mercy Ships to deliver medical aid to African countries The world’s largest civilian hospital ship is nearing delivery from Tianjin Xingang Shipyard in northern China five years after its keel

First purpose-built vessel for Mercy Ships poised to change thousands of lives Mercy Ships is unveiling to the public details of its new hospital ship under construction in China. It is expected that during its 50-year predicted lifespan, surgical procedures alone on the 37,000 gross ton vessel will improve the lives of more than 150,000

Join us in making this year’s fund-raiser a mission to remember From November 4 the shipping and trading community will join together once again to raise vital funds for Mercy Ships’ operations in Africa. So be part of this great journey which has seen Cargo Day raise around $3 million since it was launched in

Annual event cancelled because of Covid-19 pandemic It is with great regret that we have decided to cancel this year’s Geneva Cargo Day Ball scheduled for November 18 at the Hotel Beau-Rivage.Some of our wonderful supporters may have been prevented from attending the event because of travel restrictions. We also want to ensure the safety

Curtailing the Africa Mercy’s assignment in Senegal was a difficult decision.Captain Taylor Perez said the experience of leaving and going into quarantine in Tenerife brought practical and emotional problems for the crew and medics, particularly those from Africa. “For me, it started with an obvious concern for the crew,” Perez told TradeWinds, “but the level

Hospital ship volunteers embody this year’s IMO Day of the Seafarer theme The Day of the Seafarer theme that seafarers are key workers is particularly relevant to Mercy Ships, which takes medical help on its converted ferry to some of the neediest parts of the world. IMO secretary general Kitack Lim said he was deeply

Mercy Ships is an international organisation bringing hope and healing to the world’s forgotten poor. As many as 5 billion people lack access to safe, affordable surgical and anaesthesia services worldwide, and less than 6% of all operations are delivered to the world’s poorest countries. Ruben Galama worked as a mechanical engineer in The Netherlands,

The Africa Mercy has meeting and work spaces as well as berths for an average crew of 400 from up to 50 nations serving onboard at any given time. The 16,500-ton vessel has had over 10,000 crew from over 90 countries serve onboard since its deployment in 2007. The 481 berths include 24 family cabins,

The Africa Mercy is the world’s largest nongovernmental hospital ship and is dedicated to serving the continent of Africa. Mercy Ships has an average of 1,300 volunteer crew from more than 50 nations, serving onboard the Africa Mercy each year. Captain Taylor Perez “This is where I am supposed to be. There is no question

A Chief Officer serving Africa nations onboard our ship with his family. According to the International Chamber of Shipping an estimated 1,647,500 seafarers are serving on merchant ships trading internationally. Mercy Ships has an average of 1,300 volunteer crew, from more than 50 nations, serving each year onboard the Africa Mercy, the largest charity-run hospital

Serving Mercy Ships since 2007, Capt McGrath says hospital ship was also a great career opportunity Captain Joshua McGrath has served on Africa Mercy several times but Senegal is the first as master of the hospital vessel. And with it comes plenty of challenges compared with the cruise ships and roll-on, roll-off, long haul passenger

SINGAPORE, 6 November 2019 – Louis Dreyfus Company (LDC) has announced its support for Mercy Ships, a global charity which manages the world’s largest non-governmental hospital ship that has been bringing medical services and supplies to developing countries since 1978. As a participant in this year’s Mercy Ships Cargo Day which falls today, LDC and

During the hospital ship Africa Mercy’s recent 10-month 2018-2019 field service in Guinea, West Africa over 10,000 individual patients benefited from free surgical and medical care. A snapshot of Mercy in Action while the vessel was berthed in the Port of Conakry– Mercy Ships’ fourth visit to Guinea: 509 general surgical projects for 493 patients

Remarkable human beings serving a really special charity, says Bob Knight Bob Knight concedes that after years in shipbroking and the current buoyant tanker market it is easy to be preoccupied with sealing the next deal. It is true of many other professions at a time when 97% of the poorest billion people in the

Founder of Mercy Ships says proceeds can change the lives of many of the poorest people on earth Mercy Ships is “deeply grateful” for the funds raised each year by Cargo Day, says joint founder Don Stephens. A “brilliant idea” is how he describes Cargo Day, now in its fourth year. Partnership with the maritime

Shipbrokers, charterers and shipowners in Singapore are backing Mercy Ships, as the charity hospital ship operator steps up its activities ahead of its annual cargo day fundraiser. Senior figures from Clarksons, BRS, Affinity,Clearlake, Eastern Pacific, ST Shipping, Thenamaris, Trafigura, Total, Vitol and others have formed a Singapore regional committee to encourage donations. They join colleagues

Cargo Day Ball 2019  Vision Trip 2019 Discover where the Litasco award went Cargo Day Ball 2018

Fundraisers are hoping a seasonal upswing in the tanker markets will boost this year’s donations to the $1m mark. Mercy Ships Cargo Day has been switched from 2 October to 6 November as organisers chase $1m in donations. Since it started three years ago, the annual fundraising event has been staged in early October. But

Geneva ball hears how shipping and trading communities have thrown their weight behind Cargo Day fundraising Shipbrokers, traders, owners and many others celebrated a third successful year of fundraising for hospital charity Mercy Ships at a Cargo Day ball in Geneva. Tributes were paid to the work of Mercy Ships in providing free medical care

Nineteen-year-old Sayoe never imagined she would be greeted with anything except joy when she gave birth to her first child. But when baby Mohammed was born with a cleft lip and palate, people accused her of witchcraft, saying that her baby’s deformity was a curse. Despite being encouraged to abandon Mohammed, who was even called

Leading tanker players organize cocktail party fundraiser for hospital charity A trio of top tanker owners teamed up in Houston, Texas, for a joint festive cocktail party, raising more than $36,000 for medical charity Mercy Ships. Stena Bulk, AET and Teekay sponsored the event to raise awareness of Mercy Ships in the US. The charity

The outstanding work of doctors and nurses on board hospital ship Africa Mercy is to be portrayed during a documentary series broadcast on SBS. Episode one of “The Surgery Ship” premiers on Tuesday 27 November and follows the Australian (and other) doctors and nurses on board the ship as they perform life-saving surgery and medical

The global shipping and trading community joined together a third time to raise support for Mercy Ships, an NGO operating the world’s largest civilian hospital ship, serving those with little access to medical care. The Mercy Ships Cargo Day Campaign raised more than $750,000 through the participation of 25 charterers, 16 shipowners, 21 shipbrokers, 2

On Tuesday 20th November, much of the Geneva Shipping Community gathered at the evocative Café du Bourg de Four, in the old town, to once more give a fun filled evening of solidarity and support to the charity Mercy Ships. A few charterers formed an impromptu band, called ‘The C Band’ and treated a host

Mercy Ships Cargo Day 2018 has so far raised well over $700,000 for the hospital ship charity — beating last year’s total. The figure could rise further, providing vital funds for the many thousands of surgical and other procedures carried out by the staff of the 16,572-gt Africa Mercy (built 1980), currently on field service

Charterers, brokers, traders and owners have turned the spotlight on the caring side of shipping by raising more than $500,000 so far for this year’s Mercy Ships Cargo Day. That total is set to rise over the next few weeks as more companies get involved and the amount of money from contributed brokerage commissions becomes

Senior figures from Stena Bulk and Teekay Shipping will lead a new US committee set up to promote Mercy Ships’ annual Cargo Day fundraiser. JR Gardner, general manager and head of crude oil and fuel in the US for Stena, and Teekay’s Eric Nagel, director of Atlantic aframax and global support services, have been working

Mercy Ships Cargo Day, an annual event established by the worldwide shipping community in 2016, has announced a $1 million USD target goal for 2018. The event, held October 3, provides the opportunity for the shipping and trading community around the world to donate 50 percent of its commission on cargoes (Mercy Cargoes) or to

ORGANISERS of Mercy Ships Cargo Day have announced a USD$1m target goal for 2018. The event, held on 3 October, provides the global shipping and trading community the chance to donate 50% of commission on cargoes (Mercy Cargoes) or to make a direct financial contribution to Mercy Ships. Mercy Ships runs the world’s largest private

Shipping industry commits to raising $1 million USD for Mercy Ships in 2018   Mercy Ships Cargo Day, an annual event established by the worldwide shipping community in 2016, has announced a $1 million USD target goal for 2018. The event, held October 3, provides the opportunity for the shipping and trading community around the

Senior shipping figures have stepped forward to encourage the industry to rally behind this year’s Cargo Day fundraising for medical charity Mercy Ships. The event is planned for 3 October with the hope that the total raised by the global shipping and trading community will break through the $1m mark.With four weeks to go, Mercy

Mercy Ships Cargo Day, an annual event established by the worldwide shipping community in 2016, has announced a $1 million target goal for 2018. The event, held Oct. 3, provides the opportunity for the shipping and trading community around the world to donate 50 percent of its commission on cargoes (Mercy Cargoes) or to make

Mercy Ships Cargo Day, an annual event established by the worldwide shipping community in 2016, has announced a $1 million target goal for 2018. The event, held Oct. 3, provides the opportunity for the shipping and trading community around the world to donate 50 percent of its commission on cargoes (Mercy Cargoes) or to make

Global charity Mercy Ships provides free, world-class health care to those with little access to medical services in impoverished, developing countries through its of fleet hospital ships such as the Africa Mercy. Ulrich, who had an operation to straighten his legs, and Valerie, who had a tumor removed onboard the Africa Mercy, both benefitted from

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Cargo Day, new ship in China and looking ahead to doubling capacity feature in landmark event Mercy Ships celebrated its 40th anniversary with a London ball attended by founders Don and Deyon Stephens. The event — staged at a venue close to Trafalgar Square, attended by more than 300 supporters of the hospital ship charity

In keeping with its resolve to give “wings to aspirations” across the globe, Sahara Group, a leading International Energy and Infrastructure Conglomerate, joined Mercy Ships and other global partners to celebrate the Cargo Day 2018 in Geneva on May 17, 2018. The Cargo Day is an initiative of Mercy Ships, a corporate responsibility organization that

Seafarer colleagues swapped from sea to shore with the help of two ski boot bags A pair of ski boot bags, four seafarers serving on the same ship and plenty of ambition marked the early days of Sweden’s Wisby Tankers. The bags served as the company’s mobile office, a convenient way of transferring files between

Supporters of Mercy Ships’ Cargo Day turned out in force for a “thank you” Geneva lakeside gala ball. More than 250 guests toasted the raising of $673,000 at the 2017 event and a total of $1m in the two years since Cargo Day was launched. Special guests at the Hotel Beau-Rivage included Diego Aponte, president

 Douala Senior figures from leading brokerages, traders and shipowning companies witnessed first-hand work being carried out by hospital ship charity Mercy Ships. An aptly named Vision Trip saw the operator of the world’s largest civilian hospital vessel spend three days showing their guests from Switzerland, Norway, Sweden and the UK how thousands of people in

BELROSE’s John Borrow has devoted much of his working life to being a volunteer and has now been made the captain of the world’s largest independent hospital ship. He took over the captaincy of Africa Mercy last month in Benin, West Africa. Africa Mercy is part of the Mercy Ships network of ­hospital ships which

I am really enjoying the hands on nature of the work while bringing something more to the job through my previous experience as a chief engineer. Engineers Australia member Mick Dunne is serving as a volunteer crew member on board the MVAfrica Mercy, the world’s largest non-governmental hospital ship, recently featured in an SBS television

Mercy Ships, which celebrates its 40th anniversary this year, has been chosen by Nor-Shipping to be its new charity partner. Nor-Shipping director Per Martin Tanggaard described the operator of the world’s largest civilian hospital ship as a “lifesaver”. “It provides first-class medical facilities and expertise to communities that have limited, or sometimes zero, access to

Amina and her children Elodie, Marie and Jacques In 2001, the crew of our first hospital ship operated the young Amina of cataract, giving her back her sight and at the same time a whole new perspective on the future. But who would have thought that in 2017 our paths would cross again and we

Mercy Ships Cargo Day 2017 has raised a grand total of $672,300. “Thank you for this wonderful result,” said Corinne Kemp, communications manager for the non-governmental organisation, which operates the world’s largest civilian hospital ship. The global shipping and trading community rallied behind Cargo Day, which has raised nearly $1m in the two years it

Shipping and trading industry support of Mercy Ships’ Cargo Day has reached $651,400 — double the figure of a year earlier. The fundraising venture was backed by 83 companies — 24 charterers, 20 shipowners, 23 shipbrokers, seven port agents, and nine service outfits and associations. “Who thought we could have achieved this,” said Tim Webb,

Nat Geo has produced an amazing documentary series on Mercy Ships called “The Surgery Ship”. More than 70% of the world’s population cannot access essential surgery. For many, the hospital ship Africa Mercy is their last hope. On board, a crew of world -class medical volunteers from across the globe face the biggest challenges of

Trafigura, Socar Trading and Litasco topped the list of charterers that gave cargoes from which broker commissions have pushed Mercy Ships Cargo Day fundraising towards $500,000. Early this week, more than $462,300 had been raised for hospital ship operator Mercy Ships. Participants in this year’s event, in which TradeWinds acted as a partner, are too

Mercy Ships has already raised over $394,000 from its second annual Cargo Day — easily beating last year’s $320,000. It is expected the eventual figure could exceed $450,000, providing vitally needed funds for life-changing surgery in Africa. Some 21 charterers, 16 shipowners, 24 brokers and 10 port agents, as well as seven service companies and

Mercy Ships Cargo Day is being held for the second year and Concordia Maritime is one of the companies supporting the activities on board Mercy Ships’ hospital ship. The participants can either donate part of their commission this day or choose a sum of money they want to donate, which they can also do after

The commodity trading and shipping industries are throwing their weight behind Mercy Ships Cargo Day with leading figures telling TradeWinds why they are supporting the 4 October fundraising event. Around 40 companies have so far signed up to participate, including Clarksons, Barry Rogliano Salles (BRS), Riverlake, Fearnleys and Affinity on the broking side. Charterers include

Hospital ship the Africa Mercy has arrived in Cameroon for its first tour of duty in the West African country after undergoing maintenance dry-docking in Las Palmas, Gran Canaria. Described by Mercy Ships’ UK head of fundraising, Sarah Balser, as the “most exciting ship in the world”, it has been all hands on deck preparing the floating

Time has come for the shipping and trading community to rally behind Mercy Ships’ second annual Cargo Day. After raising more than $300,000 from the first Cargo Day last year, companies are being urged to visit mercyshipscargoday.org and press the button to donate. It is hoped to double last year’s total and really establish the

Link to the french version Benin (2016-2017): an increasing number of participants in our Medical Capacity Building training program. Mercy Ships has already visited Benin 5 times. Benin ranks 166 out of 187 countries according to the United Nations Humanitarian Development index.   Zoom on Benin Life expectancy is 61 years. High fertility rate with

The generosity of Scottish businesswoman Ann Gloag sent the total raised during an Africa Ball evening in London for Mercy Ships spiralling to a staggering £250,000. Gloag, who funded the purchase of Mercy Ship’s 16,572-gt hospital vessel Africa Mercy (built 1980), spoke passionately about the organi­sation on whose UK and ­international boards she serves. The

View the article here The Geneva Cargo Day Ball proved an evening to remember while helping raise funds for hospital ship Africa Mercy. Now attention is turning to the Cargo Day to be held on 4 October Glasses clinked at the first Cargo Day Ball held by Mercy Ships Switzerland on May 18 where talk

William patiently waits as the bandages from his right eye are removed. The 29-year-old sits perfectly still as his eye is wiped clean. He slowly opens his eye as everyone in the room, including his wife and five-year-old son, wait with bated breath. Silently everyone wonders the same thing:  “Did the surgery restore William’s vision?”

Viewed from the left side of her profile, Muriella’s natural beauty made her stand out in the screening crowd of over a thousand. With her trendy clothes, fashionable long hair and typically self-conscious 17-year-old manner, she could have been standing in a high school cafeteria line in any high-income country. But as soon as the

Eighteen-year-old Fanjakely arrived at the Mercy Ships patient screening with a look of total despair in her eyes and unsmiling hopelessness on her face. It had always been her dream to be a mother. When she was fifteen, her captivating features and grace caught the eye of a handsome farmer, and they were wed. Not

Blandine was alone when her candle slipped off the bedside table, fell on the surrounding mosquito net, and engulfed her room in flames. The 22-year-old woman recalls that terrible night. “There was oil in an open bottle – a liter and a half of it – I didn’t know it was there.” Motioning upward with

My name is Simone, and this is the story of my youngest child, Israel … After thirty hours of labor and a last-minute C-section, my first son was abruptly brought into the world. But as quickly as he came in, he was taken away by the nurses because I was in such a bad condition.

Zakael grins from ear to ear. On a very hot summer day in Madagascar, the seven-year-old wears his shirt open, revealing a small surgical scar just above his left collarbone. He wears the scar proudly . . . a symbol of where he has been and where he is going. “I want to be a

“It was the stunning World Cup victory in 2010 which brought me to name my son after football coach José Mourinho,” says Maurinho’s dad. It makes sense, then, when his mom describes her son’s competitive nature. “When Maurinho says that he wants to achieve something, he will not back down until he gets it done.

In places without access to proper medical care, orthopaedic conditions in children are unfortunately commonplace. Birth defects go uncorrected. Bone breaks are rarely correctly set and mended. Life changing surgeries and physiotherapy relieve suffering caused from deformities and neglected trauma. Because of this programme, children all over Africa are able to run and play, and

Article by Geoff Garfield, Tradewinds Download PDF

“Thank You” page in the 17th of February edition of Tradewinds to thank all the participants of the Mercy Ships Cargo Day 2016. Download PDF Hope to see you on October 4th for the Cargo Day 2017!    

MERCY SHIPS and all our patients would like to thank you for your incredible participation at the first Mercy Ships Cargo Day. The 2016 edition was a major success with participation of 30 charterers, 24 shipowners, 17 brokers, 6 port agents, 5 service companies and associations. In total, 60 cargoes were given to brokers and

Around $400,000 and possibly much more may flow from Mercy Ships’ Cargo Day fund-raising event on 19 October in a week that also saw the hospital ship charity’s UK arm celebrate its 20th anniversary. The shipping community — including charterers, brokers and owners — rallied behind Cargo Day committing so-called Mercy Cargoes and contributing broker

Press Release, 14th of october Geneva, 11th October 2016 – Mercy Ships is organizing, for the first time, a gift day called “Mercy Ships Cargo Day” on 19th October. The shipping and maritime trading community is invited to raise funds for this NGO which offers treatment on board the largest civilian hospital ship in the

Article by Geoff Garfields, Tradewinds, 14 of october 2016 Shipowners have less than a week to join charterers, brokers and others in the industry supporting one of the most worthwhile fundraising events of the year — Mercy Ships’ Cargo Day. The 19 October event hopes to raise many thousands of dollars for the charity, which

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Jan Tuinier, master of the Africa Mercy, has a vision of making money from recycling garbage in the Dominican Republic. He relinquished his position as captain this summer to help 150 people who live in extreme poverty on a rubbish dump in the Caribbean country. The project sums up Tuinier’s decision to forfeit a regular

Mercy Ships has developed since its foundation in 1978, from responding to disasters to capacity-building. It works with host nations to provide a legacy of desperately needed healthcare by training local surgeons, nurses, anaesthetists, sterilising technicians, community health workers and administrators to continue the work after the ship departs. Its mentoring programmes, referred to as

A 1990s newspaper article about Mercy Ships was to be the catalyst for shipbroker Gilbert Walter finding a yard in China to build the charity’s new vessel a decade later. Walter filed the article away until he opened the Geneva office of Barry Rogliano Salles (BRS) as managing director and saw that Mercy Ships International

Millions of lives in some of the world’s poorest countries have been radically transformed by Mercy Ships” free surgical and medical care. Geoff Garfield visited the hospital ship Africa Mercy in Madagascar to see the work of the volunteers who pay for the privilege of being on board Everyone has the right to a seat

New York, N.Y. “ October 1, 2014 “ The Mercy Ships story was highlighted once again by the CBS 60 Minutes team as they took home the award for Outstanding Feature Story in a News Magazine for their “Africa Mercy” piece. The award was presented at last night’s 35th Annual News and Documentary Emmy Award

Since 1978, Mercy Ships has offered free surgical care to countries that rank in the lower third of the United Nations Human Development Index. Our hospital ships provide a state-of-the-art platform for providing a comprehensive package of hope and healing that is comprised of three parts: direct medical services (surgeries and medical treatments), training (educational

Hospital ship’s Cargo Day creates opportunity for shipping industry to extend helping hand to those in need Shipbrokers, charterers and owners have the opportunity to participate in a “Cargo Day” fund-raising project for Mercy Ships, which operates the world’s largest civil hospital vessel. The organisation has launched a website (cargo.darwinstaging.com), where participants can pledge an

Hospital ship delivers hope to thousands in Africa with new vessel ordered in China set to multiply free health care. By Geoff Garfield, News Editor, Tradewinds. Africa Mercy is the name on the bow of a converted ro-pax but an equally fitting epithet would be “Serving the Poorest of the Poor.” The phrase came from

William patiently waits as the bandages from his right eye are removed. The 29-year-old sits perfectly still as his eye is wiped clean. He slowly opens his eye as everyone in the room, including his wife and five-year-old son, wait with bated breath. Silently everyone wonders the same thing: “Did the surgery restore William’s vision?”

Cyriane often watches as her older sister puts on her shoes. Cyriane’s reaction is always the same – she wants to wear shoes just like her big sister! Sadly, born with severe clubbed feet that are bent inwards at 90 degree angles, it’s impossible for Cyriane to wear shoes – except on her hands! “She

Although Fenosoa’s family live in the same Madagascan village, he shares a hut with his grandfather. Why? “Because he loves me,” explains his grandfather, Papa Denis. Fenosoa was born with a cyst on his side. For five years it grew along with the little boy, sometimes making him lose his balance. Papa Denis heard a

The tiny nine-year-old struggled into the Mercy Ships admissions tent. Fifalina’s legs seemed to be slowly folding beneath her. They could no longer hold her erect. Her mother, Ludvine, says Fifalina’s legs were normal at birth. However, when Fifalina started to walk, she often fell, and Ludvine noticed that her legs began to curve. Fifalina’s

Preparing to land, the Mission Aviation Fellowship (MAF) plane dipped its wings over the Mercy Ship, but Viviaby was oblivious. She focused on comforting her tiny daughter. At almost seven months old, Haingo weighed only 2.2 kilograms (4.8 pounds). She was severely malnourished because of her cleft palate. Crammed full of courageous love, Viviaby had

Rosella’s father watches as a plane bounces down the roughly constructed dirt runway. Landing a plane in this remote region of northwest Madagascar is not an easy task. But it is no more difficult than the father’s five-hour journey on foot to reach the makeshift airstrip. As the pilot steps out and secures the lightweight

Prinscio was two when he took his first steps, walking on the tops of his twisted feet. Born with bilateral club feet, he developed this curious gait to get around. He was ashamed of the way he moved, and he would declare, “Don’t talk about my feet!” to anyone who stared. In every other way,

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