World's largest civilian hospital ship debuts in Senegal

It is the largest civilian hospital ship in the world.

The

made its debut in the port of Dakar (Senegal), where it will stay for four weeks to train health professionals.

This giant, which measures 174 meters long by 28.6 meters wide and includes 12 bridges, arrived in the port of the Senegalese capital on Friday.

He must return there in 2023 to provide surgical care to poor populations.

His arrival coincides with a new drama that has shaken the country and brought to light the shortcomings of Senegal's health system.

Eleven babies died on May 25 in a fire at a public hospital in Tivaouane.

After many years of preparation, the #MercyShips fleet is now side by side in Africa for the first time.

We are so grateful to the nation of #Senegal for welcoming the #GlobalMercy to join the #AfricaMercy and bring life-changing hope and healing.

#TogetherWithAfrica pic.twitter.com/fkgHvqrVvU

— Mercy Ships (@MercyShips) May 27, 2022

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Help the less fortunate

On the

, the hospital covers approximately 7,000 square meters, and includes "six operating theaters, 102 acute care beds, 7 intensive care beds and 90 convalescent beds," according to a statement.

The construction of this boat lasted 48 months, according to the Mercy Ships Global Association, an international NGO working to improve access to health care in several African countries.

Based on 43 years of organizational experience and more than five years of specifically studying the results of the

, a hospital ship in service since 2007 to help the most deprived in West and Central Africa, Mercy Ships wished add another ship of “higher capacity” and “with the same objectives”.

Train 260 healthcare professionals

During its stay in Senegal, the crew of the

intends to participate in the training of 260 Senegalese health professionals, alongside the crew of the

present in the port of Dakar since February (until November ) and which performs surgery on board.

At the end of June, the

will return to the Canary Islands for the “complete and final fitting out of the boat”.

The NGO Mercy Ships plans to return between February and June 2023 to conduct training and surgery.

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