Mercy Ships Completes Africa Mercy 2025 Field Service in Madagascar After Ten Months of Life-Saving Care
The Government of Madagascar and the international medical charity Mercy Ships have officially marked the successful conclusion of the Africa Mercy® 2025 field service, following ten months of close collaboration focused on strengthening surgical care and healthcare capacity across the country.
The completion of the 2025 field service represents the end of a significant phase of partnership and the beginning of a new chapter, as the hospital ship prepares to enter its scheduled Annual Maintenance Period. The Africa Mercy is expected to return to Madagascar in May 2026.
This mission marked Mercy Ships’ fifth visit to Madagascar since 1996 and the second consecutive deployment of the Africa Mercy to the port city of Tamatave.
Over the course of the field service, medical teams performed more than 1,370 life-changing surgeries for over 1,250 patients, treating conditions such as goitres, cataracts, cleft lips, bowed legs, and other surgically correctable conditions.
Among the most moving cases was that of a blind mother and daughter who were able to see each other’s faces for the first time after successful surgeries performed on board the ship.
In addition to surgical care, Mercy Ships delivered more than 7,110 dental procedures to over 1,140 patients.
Madagascar’s Minister of Public Health, Dr. Managa Monira, commended the partnership between the government and Mercy Ships, noting that the collaboration has contributed significantly to strengthening the national health system and expanding access to essential healthcare services.
Since its first mission to Madagascar, Mercy Ships has worked alongside the Malagasy government to provide more than 7,770 surgical procedures and over 57,930 dental treatments nationwide.
Beyond direct patient care, Mercy Ships continues to prioritize long-term capacity building. Since February, the organization has partnered with the Ministry of Health to deliver comprehensive medical training aimed at reinforcing Madagascar’s surgical and healthcare systems. T
raining initiatives have included physiotherapy mentoring, surgical training, biomedical engineering, dental and laboratory technician education, and nurse anaesthetic mentoring.
During the 2025 field service, the Mercy Ships team delivered more than 9,050 hours of training on board the Africa Mercy and over 11,030 hours of training off-ship, engaging more than 150 Malagasy healthcare professionals.
Glenn Wiffin, Director of Education, Training and Advocacy at Mercy Ships, highlighted the commitment of Malagasy healthcare workers, emphasizing that investing in local capacity ensures sustainable improvements long after the organization’s departure.
As the Africa Mercy prepares to leave Tamatave for its maintenance period, Mercy Ships expressed its deep appreciation to the people and Government of Madagascar for their support, hospitality, and shared commitment to improving access to surgical care.
Nathan Janson, Managing Director of the Africa Mercy, noted that more than 1,400 volunteers from over 60 countries served on board during the mission, describing the experience as a collective journey of hope, healing, and partnership.
The Africa Mercy is scheduled to return to Madagascar in May 2026 for a third consecutive field service, reaffirming Mercy Ships’ long-term commitment to supporting Madagascar’s efforts to strengthen its national healthcare system.
