Dr. Michelle White, Chief Executive Officer of Mercy Ships, has met with Bassirou Diomaye Faye, President of the Republic of Senegal, to strengthen long-term collaboration between the global medical charity and the Government of Senegal.
The meeting, held at the Presidential Palace in Dakar, focused on advancing a nearly decade-long partnership anchored on a formal protocol agreement currently in place through 2027. Discussions centered on deepening cooperation in support of national healthcare priorities and the long-term development of Senegal’s surgical systems.
During her visit, Dr. White also held strategic meetings with Senegal’s Minister of Health, Dr. Ibrahima Sy, and the Chief of Staff to the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Fatou Gaye Ngom. The engagements reinforced Mercy Ships’ commitment to aligning closely with national health strategies while strengthening diplomatic and regional collaboration.
A key highlight of the talks was the shared desire to see a Mercy Ships hospital vessel return to Senegal as soon as feasible, with plans for regular future engagements supported by sustained Medical Capacity Building (MCB) initiatives. Both parties explored opportunities to expand collaboration in medical training, healthcare infrastructure development, innovation in service delivery, and broader regional engagement across West Africa.
Senegal’s strategic location was identified as a strong platform for regional cooperation aimed at increasing access to specialized surgical care and professional training across neighboring countries.
The discussions also took place within the context of Mercy Ships’ ongoing field service commitments. The Africa Mercy® is scheduled to return to Madagascar in April 2026, while the Global Mercy™ is set to conclude its field service in Sierra Leone before arriving in Ghana in August 2026.
Central to Mercy Ships’ long-term engagement in Senegal is the Africa Service Center (ASC), which supports operations across the continent and strengthens coordination with national authorities and healthcare partners.
“The Africa Service Center embodies our commitment to being present, accountable, and rooted on the continent,” Dr. White said.
“Under Gilchrist Koutob, Managing Director ASC, it strengthens African leadership within our organization and serves as a support for our African crew. Through the generosity and warm hospitality of His Excellency the President of Senegal, the Africa Service Center is strategically placed, enabling us to work more closely with governments and partners in building sustainable surgical systems that are led and sustained locally.”
Further steps in the partnership will be determined through continued dialogue between both parties.
Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Mercy Ships.
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