STORIES
Life Behind Closed Doors
Confort never imagined the morning she put on a pot of boiling water to make some rice for her hungry daughters would be the start of a mother’s nightmare. One-year-old Gamai, who had just started walking, toddled past the pot knocking it over as she fell. As the...
Enviro Health Solutions
Francois Engelbrecht and Steven van Gylswyk have quickly become part of the Africa Mercy crew! Since July 2018, Francois and Steven have made three trips to the Africa Mercy to carry out their pest control treatment plan, ensuring that the ship is kept clean, hygienic...
Mafoudiya
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A Miracle for Mafoudiya
When Mafoudiya was born, her mother, Mabinty, was unable to truly enjoy her child’s bright eyes or sweet smile because of the worry that consumed her. Her daughter was born with a cleft lip, and the family had little access to medical help. Due to Mafoudiya’s cleft...
Finding Redemption
There is nothing more heartbreaking for a parent than watching their child struggle through basic tasks because of something they can’t control. Ibrahima knows this pain well, from watching not one, but two of his children suffer from an orthopedic condition known as...
Pierre
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Finding Joy: M’Mah’s Story
When M’Mah was born, her mother had a simple wish for her daughter’s life. “I want her to be like a diamond — to shine bright,” she said. Unfortunately for most of M’Mah’s life, the light inside her was overshadowed by the neurofibroma growing on her face. When she...
Meet Kevin Abrahams
My name is Kevin Abrahams and I am a fitter mechanic on board the Africa Mercy. My journey started when the Africa Mercy came to Cape Town some years ago and was docked at the Waterfront. One day I decided to tour the ship with my grandson to see what it was all...
Standing Tall: Ulrich’s Story
“What do you want to be when you grow up?” someone asked 12-year-old Ulrich. “I want to be tall like my friends,” he answered with a smile. Even experienced nurses onboard the Africa Mercy had never seen a case quite like Ulrich’s. He was born with dislocated knees...
Salematu’s Miracle
It all started with a toothache. Salematu was 24 when she first noticed the pain in her mouth. As a first-year nursing student, she knew she should go to the dentist, but she was struggling. She had just lost her husband unexpectedly, leaving her with two young...