Mercy Ships, in collaboration with the Ministry of Health and the Ghana Health Service, has commenced regional patient registration for free specialised surgeries ahead of the arrival of the Global Mercy, the world’s largest civilian hospital ship.

The national initiative aims to provide critical healthcare interventions to individuals living with treatable, debilitating surgical conditions. Medical assessments are being carried out at designated regional and district hospitals across multiple regions to identify eligible patients for the upcoming ship deployment.

Scope of Specialized Treatments Offered

Screening and registration are focused strictly on specific surgical conditions that can be safely managed on board the hospital ship. Medical teams are actively evaluating individuals presenting with the following conditions:

- Facial tumours

- Cataracts

- Cleft lip and cleft palate

- Bowed legs and knocked knees

- Inguinal hernia

- Burn contractures

- Obstetric fistula

- Lipoma

- Post-noma reconstruction

Registration Locations and Timeline

The regional registration drive is currently underway and will conclude on Friday, June 5, 2026. Screenings are conducted every Monday through Friday (excluding Wednesdays) at selected sites across the country, with distinct windows tailored to specific municipal zones:

- Greater Accra: Screening is running at Ga East Municipal Hospital until June 5, 2026 (having concluded at Greater Accra Regional Hospital earlier in May).

- Other Key Locations: Screening continues through June 5 at Tema General Hospital, Kumasi (Suntresu Hospital), Takoradi (Effia Nkwanta Regional Hospital), Cape Coast Metropolitan Hospital, Koforidua Regional Hospital, Tamale (West District Hospital), Sunyani Municipal Hospital, Sefwi-Wiawso Municipal Hospital, Wa Regional Hospital, Sogakope District Hospital, and Worawora Regional Hospital.

Important Patient Notice

All registration and medical screening activities are completely free of charge. Members of the public are advised that registration does not automatically guarantee surgery; final selection depends entirely on medical evaluation and clearance by Mercy Ships specialist surgeons.

A Joint Commitment to Community Health

In an official statement supporting public awareness, Dr Bertha Serwa Ayi, Board Member of Mercy Ships International and Chair of the Medical Review Committee, emphasised the collaborative nature of this outreach.

The initiative relies heavily on community awareness to ensure that remote or underserved populations suffering from these specific physical ailments are reached before the registration window closes.

Local health authorities urge families, friends, and community leaders to help spread the word to ensure that those who qualify can access these medical assessment points this week.

For official information, updates, and specific scheduling requirements, visit mercyships.org or mercyships.africa.