In August 2019, our partner, Mercy Ships, deployed the Africa Mercy to Senegal, West Africa for a 10-month service program.

As COVID-19 started spreading earlier this year, Mercy Ships was forced to depart Senegal 10 weeks early for the safety of their patients and crew. Despite the early departure, Mercy Ships provided critical ophthalmic care to underserved patients from remote regions of Senegal, and ophthalmic training to local eye care providers, enabling them to continue providing care for years to come.

The service program in Senegal included:

• 543 eye surgeries (primarily cataract) provided to adults and children
• 3 ophthalmic surgeons from three regions participated in two-week surgeon mentorships
• 60 eye care providers participated in various ophthalmic training courses, including glaucoma, strabismus and retina care