
In early November 2013, Ambassador Stephanie Sullivan visited the Africa Mercy, a traveling hospital ship docked in Pointe-Noire, Congo. Africa Mercy arrived in the Republic of the Congo in August 2013 and serves as a platform for performing free medical care, including life-saving surgeries. In Central Africa for the first time, the Mercy Ships is a non-denominational, faith-based non-profit organization. The mostly volunteer staff onboard the ship hail from the United States and many other countries, and welcome local health care professionals aboard to participate in surgeries.
Pictured L-R: Brenda van Straten, Executive Assistant, Africa Mercy; Kristine Knapp, Economic Officer, U.S. Embassy Brazzaville; Ambassador Stephanie Sullivan, U.S. Ambassador to the Republic of the Congo; Timothy Tretheway, Captain of the Africa Mercy; Mae Palmer, Executive Assistant, Africa Mercy.