30 years in Just getting started

2020 Annual Report MERCY SHIPS | JUST GETTING STARTED MERCY SHIPS | JUST GETTING STARTED

This year was historically unlike any we have ever experienced. The global effects of COVID-19 have touched almost every person and brought to light the importance of healthcare like never before.

Hope and healing through our hospital ships has been the mission of Mercy Ships for over 40 years — with a particular focus on serving those whose need Mission is most prevalent, “the bottom billion.” Economist Paul Collier uses this term regarding the one Mercy Ships follows the 2,000-year- billion people who live in low- and middle- income old model of Jesus, bringing hope and economies, with the most found in communities in healing to the world’s forgotten poor. sub-Saharan Africa.

Mercy Ships has focused our attention on individuals needing surgery as well as strengthening the healthcare infrastructure in our partner host African nations. Thanks to the faithful support of friends Mission and partners like you, those suffering from painful, disfiguring, and often-preventable diseases have Vision been able to find the healing they so desperately needed, and many more are waiting. Vision Mercy Ships uses hospital ships to transform individuals and We believe that, together with the nations we serve, serve nations one at a time. we have the potential to make a difference in the lives of thousands, not only in the immediate future, Values but for decades to come! And with the arrival of our new custom-built hospital ship, the Global MercyTM, our capacity to provide free surgery and medical training will more than double.

We hope as you continue to read all that has been Values Impact accomplished during 2020, you are inspired by the people whose lives have been forever changed Following the model of Jesus, In 1990, Mercy Ships turned thanks to the power of hope. we seek to: our attention to sub-Saharan Love God. Africa where nearly 100% of As we embark on this new year, we want to say Love and serve others. the population lacks access thank you to our family of partners, supporters, and Be people of integrity. to safe, affordable, and Be people of excellence volunteer professionals, who have dedicated their timely surgery. Since then, in all we say and do. time and resources to bring hope and healing where Mercy Ships has conducted it’s needed most. We could not do this life-changing 47 field services in 13 African work without you. countries, most of which are ranked by the United Nations Following the model of Jesus For three decades, Mercy Ships has Development Index as the least developed in the world. focused our attention on strengthening the healthcare infrastructure found in the African countries we partner with. Don Stephens Founder

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Serge Nz em b e le , v o l Why we do what we do u n

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The Lancet Commission on Global Surgery identifies that 16.9 million c

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people die each year from a lack of safe surgery. That is more than f three times the annual number of people who die from HIV, Malaria, and TB combined.

In addition, billions of people experience chronic pain, financial Feeding 450 volunteers catastrophe, and social stigma because of injuries and disfigurements and 65 patients onboard that surgery could fix. There is an urgent need for significant growth the Africa Mercy every in surgical capacity and training. This is the surgery crisis. day is hard work. Chef

Serge Nzembele (from How we work the Democratic Republic of Congo) and his team Mercy Ships is a faith-based international development organization This is the ensure that everyone is fed that deploys teaching hospital ships to some of the poorest countries and happy. in the world, delivering vital, free medical to people in desperate surgery “My passion and need while training local healthcare professionals and strengthening pleasure is to serve food local healthcare systems. crisis. to our lovely and amazing crew onboard.” Our ships are the most efficient way to bring a state-of-the-art hospital to regions where clean water, electricity, medical facilities, and personnel are often limited or non-existent. Instead of trying Ng amd to build the facilities we need, we can provide a safe, stable, fully am The Africa Mercy hospital: on outfitted teaching hospital to bring life-saving and changing surgery H a r r 5 operating theaters i for thousands of people in need. s o 80 patient beds, n

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i t including recovery, a intensive care, and low Our Ships dependency wards Our Crew Draft 6.0m Our ships are crewed by volunteers from over 60 nations, with an Length 152m average of over 1,300 volunteers joining our mission each year. Breadth 23.7m Every volunteer covers their own travel expenses to the ship as well Gross Tonnage 16,572 as paying monthly fees to cover their room, board, and personal “Growing up in , expenses which allows our supporters’ to go even further. I wondered how I could The Africa Mercy® serve the people of Africa. The Global Mercy hospital: Also, while our ships are in port, local professionals are recruited I joined the Africa Mercy 6 operating theaters from African nations to help deliver our projects. Our patients and in December 2017. My 102 acute care beds programs benefit from the experience and skills of these local responsibilities include 7 ICU/isolation beds volunteers, and a few go on to join the crew full time. maintaining the air 90 self-care beds conditioning units, oxygen Draft 6.1m In 2020, Mercy Ships rose to the challenging circumstances of the year supply to the hospital, The Global MercyTM Length 174m and adapted our model to support crew, including waiving crew fees system maintenance, and Breadth 28.6m and assisting with crew repatriation for those needing to travel home plumbing. I am happy to  Mercy Ships works to empower local healthcare systems and Gross Tonnage 37,000 from the ship due to COVID-19. be part of the Engineering professionals to care for their own people. This is why we place Team.” medical capacity building (MCB) at the heart of all we do.

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A letter from the Mercy Ships 2020 Chairman Annual Report

Dear Friends, 2 Throughout this historic year, I am reminded of the heart Mission, Vision, Values of our mission — hope. Hope that encourages a family who feels forgotten. Hope that brings a volunteer halfway 4 around the world to serve a person in need. Hope that Why we do it drives us all forward, even in difficult times. 8

Senegal Field Service This mantra of hope has been a part of Mercy Ships since its inception in 1978 when our founders Don and Deyon 10 Stephens were able to put pen to paper and fulfill their Smiling into the future dream of bringing medical aid to those in remote areas. Since that time, millions have been impacted through 12 surgical interventions, medical training and mentorship, COVID-19 response and education and renovation projects. 14 E-MCB And despite the challenges the world faced this year, lives What an incredible year we have gone through! In 2020, we faced some of the have continued to be changed. As you read through the 16 A word most challenging and rewarding experiences in the history of Mercy Ships. 2020 Annual Report, I hope you are encouraged by all that Professor Oumar Raphiou While the spread of COVID-19 caused our hospital ship to leave the has been accomplished. From our patients who were able Diallo from the field service earlier than planned, our work did not stop. to find life-changing healing onboard our hospital ship CEO early this year to the many medical professionals who 18 God has continued to bless our mission this year. Thankfully, our teams were 30 years in Africa received training through our new eLearning programs, able to continue our work inland partnering with countries to provide supplies hope has not stopped. 20 and training to those responding directly to the pandemic. And programs

Dr Abram Wodomé such as our partnership with the dental school at Gamal University in The need is great, but hope and mercy are greater! On continued to thrive. We are thankful for all that was accomplished in this time behalf of myself and the Mercy Ships International Board 22 of uncertainty thanks to the generous partnership of so many people like you. of Directors, I’d like to express my heartfelt gratitude to Day Crew Spotlight everyone who made this year’s mission a success. Despite the challenges we faced in 2020, the year also brought two significant 24 reasons to celebrate! We are excited to commemorate over 30 years of serving Country Engagement Plan Thank you. the people of Africa through our training programs and medical services. And 26 with the imminent deployment of our newest ship the Global Mercy, we have Governance the opportunity to provide even more hope and healing to the people we serve in the years ahead. Myron E. Ullman, III Chairman of the Board We look forward to the future knowing that there is still work to do. We will Mercy Ships International strive to continue fulfilling our mission with excellence.

Thank you.

Tom Stogner Chief Executive Officer

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Senegal Field Service 1,199 healthcare professionals trained 2019–2020 Courses presented

The Senegal 2019-2020 field service held great At Mercy Ships, we believe we have been significance for Mercy Ships — it was our first called to help strengthen the healthcare time back to serve the people of Senegal since systems of the countries we serve. In an Safe Surgery 455 1994. While our field service was cut short due effort to create sustainable change, we Primary Trauma Care 126 offer multiple training and mentoring to the COVID-19 pandemic, good progress was Essential Pain Management 109 made during the eight-month stay in . In courses to local medical professionals Palliative Care 80 fact, we were able to meet or exceed the agreed providing education and information 6.8 “SAFE” Obstetric Anesthesia 64 upon goals for the field service. For 30 years, physicians per 100,000 for safe, effective healthcare. Our Mercy Ships has been dedicated to Africa. Mercy people in Senegal many mentoring and education Pediatric General 60 Ships was there before the pandemic, we’re there projects are implemented as part of Ophthalmic 60 during and, with your help, we’ll certainly be there a holistic strategy called the Partner Sterile Processing 57 Unit Mentoring Program (PUMP). Many long after. 30 “SAFE” Pediatric Anesthesia 54 hospital beds per 100,000 participants in our various programs Essential Surgical Skills 53 The following graphs depict the total numbers people in Senegal continue to share their knowledge with Nutritional Agriculture 35 from our service in Senegal. their own communities resulting in a forwarding of skills and creating a legacy Clubfoot 19 1 that can last for generations. Biomedical 18 dentist per 100,000 Regional Anesthesia 9 people in Senegal In total, over 55,300 hours were (source: World Bank) provided for training and mentoring local healthcare professionals. 1,407 total surgeries Surgeries by speciality Surgical patients 87 mentoring participants Mentoring specialities Nurses 37 (42%) 427 (33%) Children 858 (67%) Adults Ophthalmic 543 Burns PUMP 17 (20%) Maxillofacial 353 General 237 87 Reconstructive Plastic 158 Orthopedic 116 531 (41%) Surgeons 12 (14%) Female 754 Clubfoot 5 (6%) (59%) Anesthesia Providers 2 (2%) Male General Pediatric 6 (7%) Maxillofacial PUMP 8 (9%)

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Awa’s story

Awa had lived her 42 years burdened by a cleft lip which made eating difficult and smiling almost impossible. Her family loved and cherished her, but, all too often, others seemed to be unable to see past her mouth, and would either tease or stare at her. The shame Awa felt began to wear her down, but without access to safe, affordable surgical care, Awa feared that she would never know life without her burden. Then she heard about Mercy Ships.

Thanks to a free surgery onboard the Africa Mercy, Awa was finally able to smile without pain for the first time in her life. When her husband saw her after the operation, he was unable to recognize her at first! Now, Awa’s future is brighter than ever.

“We’re very happy to see Awa getting well after her surgery. I did not recognize her when I first saw her!” Smiling into the future Aliou, Awa’s Husband

In the developed world, a cleft lip/palate would Mariama’s story be identified prenatally on an ultrasound and Birane’s story repaired before the child was 6 months old. In Mariama is a lively and healthy baby, but a severe developing nations where healthcare is out of facial cleft strained her joyful smile. This facial Young Birane has suffered from a cleft lip since reach for billions of people, this is not the case. cleft affected 7-month-old Mariama’s lip and birth. Though the 5-year-old’s positive personality nose, making it difficult for her to eat and causing made him strong, his family worried that he A cleft lip/palate is not only disfiguring, but can her parents to worry about their child’s future. would never look like the other children his age also be life-threatening. By preventing an infant due to his condition. A simple surgery would solve from feeding properly, the condition can be fatal, Since pediatric services capable of treating baby this problem, but the family lacked access to safe, despite a mother’s desperate efforts. If an infant Mariama’s condition were not available near affordable surgical care. This changed when the survives, they face a lifetime of mockery and the family, local doctors directed her father to Africa Mercy arrived in Senegal. ridicule. The good news is that a cleft lip/palate Senegal’s capital city in hopes of finding help. It can be fixed with a simple surgery. was there that he heard about a hospital ship Soon Birane was approved for surgery and his capable of providing healing for his little girl. grandmother went with him to the ship, where The following are stories about some of our she was able to see firsthand the impact hope wonderful patients who were able to find healing Soon after, Mariama received an operation and healing can bring. “I am very happy to see this year thanks to our friends and partners. onboard the Africa Mercy that corrected her cleft my grandson smile,” she said. Thanks to his free lip. After surgery, Mariama and her family stayed surgery, Birane is filled with hope for the future! at the HOPE Center, where her mother learned “I give thanks to God first, and I am how to make nutritional baby formula and very grateful to Mercy Ships. I’m learned about the importance of nutrition for “I am very happy to see my grandson happy. Thank you!” her child. Now, Mariama is home with her family, smile.” Mamadou, Mariama’s father happy and healthy! Birane’s grandmother, and caregiver

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1 Million PPEs COVID-19 Response Donated to Helping Africa rebuild 11 African Nations 2021

The world changed significantly last year. Like delivered to , , , , The Africa Mercy is being serviced and re-stocked and many, we had to adapt to ensure we could , Republic of Congo, and Ghana. 210,250 gloves preparing to return to Africa. COVID-19 is having a serious continue our transformative work in Africa. As 124,100 masks impact on healthcare systems on the continent of Africa. COVID-19 began to overwhelm many strong Despite a global pandemic, we remain 226,250 caps We will be extending our programs and increasing our healthcare systems in the developed world, we determined to continue supporting our 223,450 shoe covers capacity with a second ship, the Global Mercy, as we get 4,950 surgical gowns ready to go back and help Africa rebuild. were determined to continue supporting our African partners. African partners and help combat the spread of 4,950 safety glasses the virus. In addition to donating funds and supplies to 188,000 isolation gowns “The pandemic is still slowly but surely spreading through 80 infrared thermometers Africa and the measures taken by the nations to mitigate By June 2020, Mercy Ships donated more than our African partners, Mercy Ships quickly moved 29,600 goggles the impact should be strengthened. To adequately 80,000 items of Personal Protective Equipment many of our training courses online and added respond to this lasting epidemic, Africa needs our support, (PPEs) (valued at more than $151,000) including new ones specifically designed to help healthcare Over $151,000 worth of PPE it is why Mercy Ships is engaged with Stop COVID-19 surgical caps, protective eye wear, face masks, workers on the ground in Africa tackle COVID-19. was donated to Senegal’s Initiative in Africa.” gloves, and infrared thermometers, which were COVID-19 relief fund. Dr. Pierre M’Pele, Mercy Ships Africa Bureau Director

March April May June July $120,000 donated to Senegal Support and mentoring for More online courses begin: PPE donated to the Republic PPE and supplies donated to The future COVID-19 relief fund to African colleagues moved online. the Mental Health Team begins of the Congo. Mercy Ships is the Benin Teaching Hospital. support local healthcare staff Special crisis management conducting Caregivers courses a long-term partner of the This hospital in Contonou We are committed in the fight against the virus. training was also added to the for colleagues in Liberia, Togo, country, having renovated is where Dr. Agbessi works to helping rebuild curriculum. Benin, DR Congo, Republic of a number of facilities there as the country’s first struggling and PPE donations to African Congo, and Cameroon. during a previous field service. reconstructive surgeon. weakened healthcare nations: Benin, Liberia, Sierra systems in Africa. Infrared thermometers Dr Agbessi (right) delivers Leone, and Madagascar. With ongoing donated to Togo. These were front line training in Benin, on mentoring, online delivered with supplies of PPE. infection control measures, as training and support we well as giving out face masks and hygiene kits. continue to strengthen and support the African of over 9,000 nations we serve. items of PPE to Ghana. These were presented to the Ministry of Health by Mercy Ships President Rosa Whitaker.

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Medical Capacity A new way of doing Building (MCB)

things: E-MCB Medical capacity building is the Sharing our skills and knowledge with local medical experts enables upon which them to contribute directly to the improvement of healthcare real, sustainable change delivery in their country long after we have left. COVID-19, social is built. It provides distancing, and lock-downs meant that the Africa Mercy had to leave African healthcare Africa early for its annual maintenance, but that did not mean we professionals with the stopped supporting and training African healthcare professionals. skills and tools they We quickly moved many of our mentoring and training courses need and empowers online, even adding new ones to our new eLearning medical them to care for their capacity building programs (E-MCB). own people.

In April, 2020, Mercy Ships launched a preliminary six-week course for nurses and doctors managing the COVID-19 crisis. Participants in each facilitated learning group improved their skills in identifying and managing critically ill patients (specifically for COVID-19 related New eLearning illness) and applying personal mental health strategies to reduce Takes the Stage the risk of burnout during the crisis. 2,100+ eLearning During Mental Health Awareness Week, Mercy Ships launched the participant hours Professionals involved in these courses included intra-oral camera attachments to bring top quality first of several online training courses in basic safety and well-being. key workers from several nations Mercy Ships mentoring from international experts to Guinean These courses, taught in both French and English, highlight our 196 eLearning has worked with during our 30 years in Africa. dental students. Through the specialty peripheral commitment to our West African colleagues and partners who are participants Countries including Liberia, Togo, Benin, DR cameras connected to the telehealth device, the facing COVID-19. Congo, and Cameroon were represented by dental expert beaming in can see right into the participants working in areas ranging from mental mouth of the patient that the dental student is health, community health training, psychiatric treating. Dentist Dr. Westerduin was all set to care, and hospital services. move to Guinea to volunteer with Mercy Ships, but that all changed in March 2020. Currently residing “This is a critical time to support the mental, in the , she now observes the Guinean Gamal Abdel emotional, and physical health of our West dental students during the week using a telehealth Nasser University African colleagues as they are on the frontline device, and on Fridays she holds a class for the Dental Clinic of preparation within their national healthcare students to address any gaps in knowledge that situations. It is important that they know they are she observed throughout the week. 2020 Overview not alone during this time when news of the virus in other parts of the world has created so much Dental experts from across the world can 9,300+ Student mentoring fear,” said Dr. Westman, Mental Health Consultant. safely mentor the dental students through the hours telehealth device. Mercy Ships directors and the At the Gamal Dental Clinic in , Guinea, telehealth device will stay in Guinea long after 2,742 Dental procedures in partnership with World Health Initiative, we the ship comes and goes so that the new dentists are using a telehealth device and three different are supported by international experts as they 743 Dental encounters continue to learn and progress. The programme will build local capacity and create a lasting impact 107 Student mentoring Technology has allowed us to quickly on the community, ensuring their long-term needs participants pivot and ensure that we can continue are met despite COVID-19. to support our partners.

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Laying the foundations for change

Through empowering local healthcare professionals and local healthcare systems to care for their own populations, Mercy Ships and our partners are laying the foundations for sustainable, holistic change.

While our ships are in a host nation’s port, our volunteer crew perform thousands of free lifesaving and life-changing surgical procedures for people in desperate need. While there, we also train and mentor local healthcare professionals to give them the skills they need to succeed, including how to pass on their new knowledge to others. Mercy Ships also renovates local facilities, donating brand new medical equipment and the Professor Oumar Raphiou Diallo premises to the nation’s healthcare system. In Guinea, the dental school leadership expressed their need for a dedicated space for student In 1998, maxillofacial surgeon, Dr. Oumar Normally, Mercy Ships would find hundreds of cleft training. Previous dental students graduated Raphiou Diallo, took part in the Mercy Ships MCB lip/palate patients seeking help; however, out of without proper clinical experience — a vital aspect programme and was mentored by the Chief 6,000 screened patients, only six needed cleft lip/ Before the renovation, dental for practical education and training, decreasing Medical Officer onboard the Africa Mercy, Dr. Gary palate repairs! Through Dr. Diallo’s tremendous students graduated without practical their ability to successfully enter the workforce. Parker. Quickly, Dr. Parker recognised Dr. Diallo’s work and the combination of efforts by NGO’s in experience. University leadership had plans to renovate the determination and heart to serve those in need the country over the years, the number of cleft lip/ dental school but were unable to procure funding. and knew that the mentoring he received would be palate cases have dropped dramatically in Guinea. Dr. David Ugai, remained in Guinea and, After a proposal from the dental school, Mercy used for the betterment of the Guinean people. along with the dental program team, has Ships agreed to renovate and equip the first floor Just as he had received training from Mercy been providing high-quality dental training. of the dental school. Dr. Diallo specialized in cleft lip/palate repair and Ships, Dr. Diallo sought a way to provide training continued to learn and train with Mercy Ships for Guinean healthcare professionals. In 2018, Dr. Diallo has a passion for his nation of Guinea medical volunteers during our numerous visits he asked Mercy Ships to partner with him in and believes in the potential of its people. By back to Conakry, Guinea. strengthening the training of dental surgeons in providing specialized surgical care and finding Guinea. More qualified surgeons would allow for ways for Guinean healthcare professionals The fruit of Dr. Diallo’s labours and dedication to the correct management of complicated dental to receive further education, he is working the people of his home country was evident during procedures. With more trained dental surgeons, towards strengthening Guinea’s overall the Africa Mercy’s most recent visit to Guinea in earlier diagnosis of tumors, facial cellulitis, noma, healthcare system. 2018-2019. and other life-threatening conditions could be made, saving many more lives. Every year Mercy Ships trains and mentors hundreds of healthcare professionals. Through Dr. Diallo’s efforts have had a massive In partnership with Dr. Diallo and the Gamal our medical capacity building programs impact on the number of cleft lip Abdel Nasser University in Conakry, Mercy Ships and partnerships with African healthcare patients in Guinea. renovated a site and created a highly operational professionals and nations, we are working dental school. Former Mercy Ships Lead Dentist, together to tackle the surgery crisis.

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Learning to walk — Sai’douba’s story Dr . Pi er re There is such strength and need in sub-Saharan Africa — M ’P e a reality epitomized by friends Sai’douba and Alason. l é

Sai’douba was horribly burned in an explosion at the garage where he worked. He couldn’t get the medical care that he needed and as his skin healed, it pulled his legs into a permanently bent position, disabling him. Sai’douba’s injuries made him depend entirely on Alason to get around.

For eight months, Alason was Sai’douba’s Dr. Pierre M’Pelé has worked in various support and legs, caring for his friend and African countries as carrying him wherever they went. a representative of “When I carry him, he’s a little bit heavy, but no one will the WHO, and is an help him if I don’t help him,” Alason said. “Whenever I expert on epidemics in look at what happened to him, I cry inside my heart.” Africa. Since 2017, the Congolese physician has Sai’douba’s injuries kept him in constant pain and he was headed the Mercy Ships wrecked with worry for his family. Africa Bureau. “Before this accident,” Sai’douba said. “I worked a lot and made a little money. I would take that money home for my mum to buy food. I know my parents don’t have 30 years in Africa enough money so I’m very scared about it.” One day, Sai’douba heard about a hospital ship providing For the last 30 years The amazing nations and people that make up the continent of Africa free surgeries to those in need. Alason carried Sai’douba currently carry the bulk of the world’s poverty and disability burden. of our 42-year history, to the ship — a journey which took two days — knowing In fact, 93% of Paul Collier’s “bottom billion” in terms of healthcare Mercy Ships has that it was his one chance at finding healing. outcomes live in sub-Saharan Africa. been a committed, “When I saw him coming out of surgery, I could see his long-term partner to We believe change is best affected through deep partnerships and legs were straight,” Alason said. “I now have hope he can Africa. collaboration. Our Africa Bureau in Benin, established in 2016 and led by walk again. He’ll be able to do everything for himself.” Dr. Pierre M’Pele, develops and strengthens relationships in the African nations with whom we partner and seeks to build new ones. The two-day walk carrying his friend was worth every step. After a four-hour surgery from Mercy During the pandemic, our tireless team in the Africa Bureau was on the Ships, Sai’douba was on his way to recovery. ground supporting our partners and African healthcare professionals. In this very tough context, the Africa Bureau has been the heartbeat of Sai’douba began his rehabilitation, and with much practice Africa for Mercy Ships. and determination, he was soon walking on his own for the first time since the accident. In Africa, Mercy Ships can work towards the most effective change where the need is greatest. Together with our partners and supporters, “I’m so happy! After such a long time I’m walking again!” we are striving to work ourselves out of a job by helping to strengthen Sai’douba exclaimed. “I feel confident now. After a few and rebuild weak healthcare systems, train and mentor local healthcare months, I’ll be able to do everything I used to do. I can

professionals, and provide life-changing and lifesaving surgeries. Above: Sai’douba (right) with Alason, before and after his surgery. work, earn money, and provide for my parents!”

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Dr. Abram Wodomé

Dr. Abram Wodomé is an ophthalmologist per year, but only about 2,000 were being “Together with Dr. Strauss and Mercy Ships we from Togo. There is an epidemic burden of carried out in the whole nation. I was one of just worked on finding solutions to the two major blindness in the nation. Over 30,000 people a very few eye surgeons in the country. problems — the lack of a proper area and are completely blinded by cataracts and an equipment for surgeries and training, and the additional 200,000 eyes are in need of cataract “It’s very difficult to practice medicine in a cost of surgery which was not affordable to the surgery to prevent blindness. In partnership developing nation like Togo. There is a lack of majority of patients.” with Mercy Ships, Dr. Wodomé and his team at facilities, a lack of good equipment, and lots of the Clinique Ophtalmologique Lumière Divine very poor patients in great need. It’s hard to Mercy Ships donated equipment to help set up (COLD) are working to change this. make a living wage. So, at first, my plan was to do COLD, and we continue to support the clinic since the same as many other Togolese doctors: save its creation. some money, then take my wife and kids and Together with Dr. Wodomé, we are move somewhere in the western world. COLD offers treatment to paying and non-paying working towards a day when nations patients. The proceeds from one help fund can care for their own people and there “In 2010, I was looking for a residency in the other as well as support from partners like is no longer a need for Mercy Ships. when I heard about Mercy Ships and their plans HelpMeSee who provide surgical kits. to train an ophthalmologist to fight against “When I was entering practice in 2010, I felt like cataract blindness in Togo. That’s how I met Above: Dr. Wodomé onboard the Africa Mercy. With Dr. Wodomé and the nations we partner I was barely scratching the surface of the need. Mercy Ships Ophthalmologist, Dr. Glenn Strauss, with, we are working towards a day when nations About 14,000 cataract surgeries were needed who became my mentor. I didn’t realize it then, but that was the beginning of a long and fruitful can care for their people and there is no need for collaboration with Mercy Ships — a collaboration Mercy Ships. that would change my career and the lives of thousands of people.

“It was the first time I had access to advanced equipment. The quality of the surgical microscope, the teaching materials, and the other working The Impact of our equipment was phenomenal. The quality and Partnership safety requirements were set at such a high level. Dr. Strauss and the staff were incredibly motivated, 1. Increased cataract surgeries in Togo even more than I was! My new schedule involved from 300 to over 1,500 every year. treating at least a hundred cataract cases a week. In our regular residency program in Togo, the maximum you’d serve in a week was three to five 2. Clinique Ophtalmologique Lumière patients. Here we were talking about 100 patients a Divine (COLD) set up. Over 750 cataract week for three months! My surgical skills were very operations are performed at this modern quickly improved. clinic every year.

“My surgical skills had been incredibly boosted, 3. Over 30 ophthalmologists from Togo and I had skills to share with others, but that didn’t and Benin have been trained by Dr change the environment I was working in. We still Wodomé. had inadequate equipment for teaching and we still had poor patients who couldn’t afford treatment.

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Standing Straight and Tall — Assane and Ousseynou’s story

Twin brothers Assane and Ousseynou share more Awa was a bit nervous about all of these new than just their good looks — both boys developed experiences, but after Ousseynou and Assane an identical condition that made their legs curve received their surgeries, she was thrilled. “I was outward at the knee, making walking or playing so happy,” she said. difficult and painful. Their parents worried that there was nothing that they could do to help heal A journey of 213 miles brought Assane their sons or ease the taunts from other children. and Ousseynou face-to-face with a ship and hope for a better future. “We could not hide Assane and Ousseynou,” their mother Awa said. “So we all had to live with In Guinea, 10% people treating them as inferior.” Once their casts came off, the physical therapy of our volunteer sessions began. Eventually, the twins were moving Then the family heard about Mercy Ships coming faster and more confidently than they had been crew came from to Senegal. The family traveled on a 213-mile able to before. “Since I gave birth to Ousseynou African nations journey to the Africa Mercy. It was the farthest and Assane, I have never seen them run,” Awa away from home the twins had ever been, but said. “The surgeries created this opportunity. It is also the closest they had been to being healed. something that comes only once in a lifetime.”

Above: Emmanuel Essah onboard the Africa Mercy.

Below: Assane and Ousseynou before and Day Crew Spotlight after surgery to straighten their legs. Emmanual Essah

Emmanual Essah originally joined the crew of the Africa Mercy in Benin in 2009 assisting our dental team as a translator.

In 2013, Mercy Ships sponsored him to train as a biomedical “It is an amazing technician. Now, Emmanual ensures that our medical equipment is experience to be well-maintained, properly configured, and safely functional. part of such a unique organization By maintaining our medical equipment, Biomed technicians help us where you can serve deliver safe surgical care and belong to our community of heroes — and be part of the making the Mercy Ships mission possible every day. In this vital role, transformation that they ensure we deliver the highest level of care to those we serve. is happening every day in the lives Biomedical technicians form an important part of our work in Africa. In addition to donating hospital equipment to local healthcare of the people we facilities, we train and equip technicians in the nations we visit so that serve.” now, they can maintain the equipment in their facilities. Emmanual Essah

Emmanuel is making a real difference in the lives of his fellow Africans by bringing his skill set to the benefit of those who desperately need medical intervention.

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The Country Engagement Plan

The Gambia DR Congo Madagascar Sierra Leone PHASE 1 COLLABORATIVE ASSESSMENT

PHASE 3 TRAINING Cameroon & SUPPORT Guinea Senegal Senegal PHASE 2 Africa Mercy 2021 SHIP DEPLOYMENT Liberia Global Mercy 2022 Sierra Leone Global Mercy 2023

Above: The brand new Global Mercy.

Looking Forward Phase 1. Collaborative Assessment Phase 2. Ship Deployment Mercy Ships listens, builds relationships, and For 10 months, a Mercy Ship is docked in the host Mercy Ships has been operating for over 42 Mercy Ships knows a collaborative, holistic collaborates with the Presidential Office, Ministry nation’s port, providing free surgical and dental care years, but we have been focusing our work approach is vital to building sustainable, lasting of Health, other departments of the government, for thousands of people, training and mentoring in Africa for the last 30 years. We have been change. With this in mind, Mercy Ships has worked and non-governmental organizations in the for local healthcare workers, renovations for local serving the continent long before the current to strengthen and expand our medical training nations we serve. A collaborative effort has an facilities, and more. pandemic. We were on the ground in Africa and mentoring programs for the people we serve. increased impact. A protocol of commitment during the outbreak of corona virus and we is signed, taking into account World Health Phase 3. Training & Support will be here long after it is a distant memory. We see a future where African healthcare Organization targets. Project implementers return to understand any professionals are empowered with the necessary challenges faced by local healthcare professionals As this report goes to print, both our ships, the tools and training to care for their own people. An analysis of capacity needs within the local in implementing learned materials and skills, refittedAfrica Mercy, and the brand-new Global The foundations for change are being laid healthcare system is undertaken, establishing provide further instruction, as well as offer Mercy are preparing to sail for Africa. The addition and together we can provide the necessary where assistance will be most effective. The encouragement and additional input. of the Global Mercy, the world’s first purpose- support and expertise to strengthen African Assessment Team examines surgical and ancillary built hospital ship, to our fleet enables us to healthcare systems and end the surgery crisis. service capacity, the port, security, and builds On subsequent visits, teams ascertain how the more than double our impact on the continent rapport with key stakeholders. An Advance Team work of Mercy Ships changed the lives of patients and have a ship in two nations at a time. enhances the effectiveness of the ship deployment and trained healthcare professionals and evaluate by preparing for the ship’s arrival. the sustained hospital and clinic improvement. Together, working with you and our partner nations, we will rebuild, strengthen, Lessons learned are used to inform future work. heal, and restore hope to thousands of more people in the years ahead.

24 | Annual Report 2020 mercyships.org | 25 MERCY SHIPS | JUST GETTING STARTED MERCY SHIPS | JUST GETTING STARTED

Governance— Mercy Ships International Board of Directors Mercy Ships National Offices

Dr. Gary Brandenburg* Ms. Lucy Quist Mercy Ships Mercy Ships France Mercy Ships Teaching Pastor Managing Director and International Support Center Buroparc Aéroport 4 Athlone Building Chairman Fellowship Bible Church Head of Change Leadership PO Box 2020 Chemin de Colovrex Corner of Cromer and Henley Roads Myron E. Ullman III* Dallas, TX, USA Morgan Stanley Garden Valley, TX 75771-2020 01210 Ferney-Voltaire Muizenberg, 7945 Chair Welwyn Garden City, UK United States of America France South Africa Gary W. Brown mercyships.org mercyships.fr mercyships.co.za President and CEO (Retired) David Rolston* Montrose, USA CIBC First Caribbean Chair Mercy Ships Mercy Ships Mercy Ships Barbados Board of Directors Rudolf-Diesel-Str.5 Naves de Esperanza Image Metrics Global Association DE - 86899 Landsberg am Lech Apartado 15001 Henry Clarke Santa Monica, CA, USA Chemin de la Fauvette 98 Germany 08080 Barcelona, President Chair 1012 Lausanne mercyships.de Spain Rosa Whitaker* Mercy Ships Filip Rygg nde.es mercyshipsglobal.org President and CEO Harpenden, UK CEO Mercy Ships Holland Rexir Ridderkerkstraat 20 Mercy Ships The Whitaker Group Marilyn Collette Frogner, Mercy Ships 3076 JW Rotterdam Box 7008 Reston, VA, USA Chair, PO Box 1080 The Netherlands 402 31 Göteborg Seachange International Daniel O. Shelley* Caloundra, Queensland 4551 mercyships.nl Sweden Ottawa, ON Texas State Senator, (Retired) Australia mercyships.se Secretary Attorney at Law mercyships.org.au Mercy Ships Korea Ronald L. Goode, Ph.D.* Jeffrey H. Coors* Austin, TX, USA #102-338 Mercy Ships Korea Mercy Ships Switzerland Chair Mercy Ships 3456, Achasan-Rou, Gwangjin-g Maison de Rovéréaz President and CEO Excelsiorlaan 89/2 The Goode Group Fiskeby Holdings US, LLC Deyon Stephens Seoul, South Korea Chemin de la Fauvette 98 Golden, CO, USA Co-Founder B-1930 Zaventem mercyships.or.kr CH 1012 Lausanne Dallas, TX, USA Mercy Ships Belgium Switzerland James F. Coppens* Garden Valley, TX, USA mercyships.be Mercy Ships mercyships.ch Vice Chair/Treasurer Chief HR and Communications Officer PO Box 13673 Ascend Performance Materials Juliette M. Tuakli, MD* Mercy Ships Canada Onehunga Mercy Ships United Kingdom Peter B. Schulze* Double Oak, TX, USA Executive Director Unit 5 - 3318 Oak St. Auckland 1643 The Lighthouse Tyler, TX, USA Child & Associates Victoria, BC V8X 1R1 New Zealand 12 Meadway Court Michael L. Cowan, MD* Accra, Ghana Canada mercyships.org.nz Stevenage, Hertfordshire, Vice Admiral, USN (Retired) mercyships.ca SG1 2EF Ashburn, VA, USA Amy Haig Wagner Mercy Ships Norway United Kingdom Wagner Family Foundation Mercy Ships Markensgate 48 mercyships.org.uk Vice Chair Kris Davis Atherton, CA, USA Jernbaekvej 6, Ramloese 4612 Kristiansand S DK 3200 Helsinge Françoise André* Founding Partner Norway Dionysus Group, LLLP Gilbert Walter Denmark mercyships.org.no Paudex, Switzerland Florence, TX, USA Managing Director mercyships.dk *To request a financial report for the year 2020, BRS Ship-broker please contact: [email protected] Bert van Dijk Geneva, Switzerland Chair, Mercy Ships Belgium Knokke-Heist, Belgium Richard Wankmuller Vice Chair Chair, Mercy Ships Australia IMAGE: Anesthesia supervisor, Sara Kwok, shares a joyous Jan van den Bosch* Anthony Dunnett Caloundra, QLD, Australia moment with a craniofacial patient onboard the Africa Mercy. Co-Founder and Managing Director Chief Executive Officer, Owner Health Partners for All Rev. Jonathan Weaver* High Flight International Holdings London, UK Senior Pastor Rotterdam, The Netherlands Greater Mt. Nebo A.M.E. Church Dame Ann H. Gloag, DBE* Bowie, MD, USA Non-Executive Director Vice Chair Stagecoach Holdings, PLC Mary Beth West* Roland Decorvet* Perth, Scotland, UK Chief Growth Officer Since 1978 Chief Executive Officer Hershey Company Troy A. Griepp* Hershey, PA, USA Philafrica foods (Pty) Ltd. Managing Director Pretoria, South Africa Morgan Stanley, Private Wealth Management Dr. Michelle White Mercy Ships has provided: San Francisco, CA, USA Consultant Anesthetist Vice Chair Great Ormond Street Hospital John Paul Ketels* London,UK Thomas Latkovic* Senior Partner (Retired) Senior Partner Clifford Chance 2.84 million Direct beneficiaries McKinsey and Company Washington, DC, USA Cleveland, OH, USA D. Michael Lindsay, Ph.D.* Emeritus Directors: President Life-changing surgical procedures Chief Executive Officer Gordon College Gustaaf van Beers 105,520+ Wenham, MA, USA Professor of Economics (Retired) Tom Stogner* Taradeau, France Mercy Ships Ruben S. Martin* Garden Valley, TX, USA President Dr. Keith Thomson Dental procedures Martin Resource Management Corp Consultant Anesthetist 489,000+ Martin Midstream Partners, LP The North Hampshire Hospital Kilgore, TX, USA Berkshire, UK Founder/President Emeritus Donald K. Stephens* David Overton* Partner 49,100+ Training to professionals Mercy Ships Opus Faveo Innovation Development in their field of expertise Garden Valley, TX, USA Austin, TX, USA *Executive Committee Member

6,600+ Training to healthcare

26 | Annual Report 2020 professionals to train othersmercyships.org | 27 P.O. Box 2020 | Garden Valley, TX | 75771-2020 USA

t 903-939-7000 | e [email protected]

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