Why West Africa?
For 20 years Mercy Ships has brought hope and healing to West Africa by delivering transformational health care at no charge to the poor, while partnering with local governments to increase the capacity of national health care systems.
Since 1990, Mercy Ships has conducted 38 field services in 10 African nations. Most of the countries visited are ranked by the United Nations Human Development Index as the least developed countries in the world.
Many of the world's poorest nations fall within a grid formed by 15 degrees north and south of the Equator and 15 degrees east and west of the Prime Meridian. Mercy Ships is committed to serving the people within this grid. With the support and prayers of friends like you, we can say to the suffering men, women and children of West Africa, "Mercy is on its way!".
West Africa at a glance
- Many countries in West Africa are ranked by the United Nations Human Development Index as the least developed countries in the world.
- An estimated 70% of the population live on less than $2 a day.
- Access to and quality of health care is very inadequate, even for those who can afford to visit a clinic.
- There are only two doctors for every 10,000 people - compared to 25 physicians for every 10,000 people in Australia.
- On average, out of every 1,000 live births, 170 children will die before the age of 5 - compared to 5 out of every 1,000 live births in Australia.
- Similarly, a woman living in West Africa has a 1 in 16 chance of dying during pregnancy - compared to a 1 in 13,300 risk for a woman in Australia.