Over the course of its hospital ship’s previous visits, Mercy Ships has worked with the Malagasy government to provide over 7,770 surgical procedures and over 57,930 dental procedures.
ANTANANARIVO, Madagascar – Following 10 months of successful partnership in strengthening surgical care and health capacity, the Government of Madagascar and Mercy Ships (www.MercyShips.org) announce the conclusion of the Africa Mercy’s® 2025 field service. This marks the end of a significant chapter of collaboration, and the beginning of a new one, as the hospital ship prepares to return to Madagascar in May 2026 after a period of maintenance.
This field service represented Mercy Ships’ fifth visit to Madagascar since 1996, and the second consecutive field service in the port of Tamatave for the Africa Mercy. During this period, the organization provided more than 1,370 life-changing surgeries for over 1,250 patients, addressing conditions such as goiters, bowed legs, cataracts, cleft lips, and more.
Among the year’s most remarkable stories is that of a blind mother and daughter (https://apo-opa.co/499CadF) who, after years of relying solely on sound and touch, were finally able to see each other’s faces following their surgeries on board. Additionally, the team delivered over 7,110 dental procedures for more than 1,140 dental patients.
“A fruitful collaboration exists between the Ministry of Public Health and Mercy Ships, working towards a strengthened health system and improved access to healthcare,” says Minister of Health, Dr. Managa Monira.
Over the course of its hospital ship’s previous visits, Mercy Ships has worked with the Malagasy government to provide over 7,770 surgical procedures and over 57,930 dental procedures.
Beyond surgical care, Mercy Ships is committed to sustainable development in the host country’s medical infrastructure. Since arriving in February, the organization has partnered with the Ministry of Health to deliver comprehensive medical training, designed to strengthen Madagascar’s surgical systems and local healthcare professionals. This includes, among other disciplines, physiotherapist mentoring, surgery training, specialized biomedical, dental, and lab technician education, and nurse anesthetic mentoring. During this field service, the team delivered over 9,050 training hours on board, over 11,030 training hours off-ship, and engaged more than 150 unique participants.
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