Africa Mercy Provides Free Health Services to Congolese

Mercy Ships visit in Pointe Noire
Mercy Ships visit in Pointe Noire

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.