There’s a lot more to life than business. PXS wants to contribute to causes that make the world a better place. That’s why we proudly support Mercy Ships, a fleet of mobile hospitals sailing around the world to provide healthcare to people in need. “17 million people die each year because they have no access to medical aid. Mercy Ships battles this emergency. It’s our mission to make healthcare accessible for every human being”, explains Ben Kok, board member of the Mercy Ships Network.
Mercy Ships was founded by Don and Deyon Stephens in 1978. Living in Lausanne, Switzerland, they envisioned the idea of a fleet of ships with medical personnel, providing humanitarian aid to people who needed it the most.
This dream became reality with the purchase of the former cruise ship ‘Victoria’, renamed to ‘Anastasis’. The ship was converted into a mobile hospital and equipped with three operating rooms, a 40-bed inpatient ward, a dental clinic and a laboratory.
The Anastasis embarked from Venice, Italy in 1982 and visited more than 56 developing countries, impacting over 2.8 million people. Throughout its first years, it operated in the South Pacific, Central America and the Caribbean Sea. The Anastasis moved to Africa in 1991, ending its mission in Monrovia, Liberia. Having sailed for over 29 years, it had an estimated number of 25,000 volunteer crew serving on board.
Mercy Ships does crucial work in Africa
Since its founding, Mercy Ships performed over 117,000 free surgeries in more than 56 countries. There are currently two ships in operation: the Global Mercy and the Africa Mercy.
This fleet came a long way since the Anastasis, with the Global Mercy alone housing 102 intensive care beds, 7 ICU beds and 90 self-care beds. It features 6 operating rooms, where reconstructive surgery, tumor removal, cleft lip repair and orthopedic surgery can be performed – among many other treatments.
The hospital area covers approximately 7,000 square feet, where voluntary doctors, nurses and other staff make world-class healthcare possible. Watch one of the life-changing stories of Mercy Ships in the video below.
What is Mercy Ships doing now?
The Global Mercy and Africa Mercy mainly perform their missions in Africa. The African Mercy arrived in Madagascar in 2024, to provide 1,000 free surgeries and training for Malagasky medical personnel.
The Global Mercy has been docked in Sierra Leone since 2023, delivering essential surgical services and advancing healthcare education. You just have to glance at the numbers to see that this kind of help is desperately needed in the region – Sierra Leone only has 25 surgeons on a population of 8 million people.
Mercy Ships plays a crucial role in supporting countries struggling with proper healthcare. Each year, more than 3,000 volunteers from over 60 countries serve on board of the two ships. PXS has been proudly supporting the charity for years.
“The crucial financial support of business partners such as PXS can be used to make medical care accessible to everyone”, says Ben Kok, board member of The Mercy Ships Network. “Both businesses and individuals can contribute to this life-changing mission.”
Are you interested in supporting Mercy Ships as well? Please do! You can join the business club, make a donation or become a volunteer yourself.
