Professor Alpha Condé, President of Guinea, tours the 'Africa Mercy' hospital ship, docked at the Port of Conakry, the capital of Guinea.
Donovan Palmer, Managing Director and International Vice-President of Mercy Ships, the Senior Management Team and over 100 Mercy Ships volunteers were present as a strong demonstration of appreciation and respect to the President and his government for enabling and supporting the Mercy Ships medical mission in Guinea.
President Condé expressed his appreciation for how much he had learned about Mercy Ships on his tour. “I now know that this is truly an international mission of over 1,000 volunteers coming during a field service – including 26 families with children. The people of Guinea are deeply thankful to the crew for the hard work, spirit of sacrifice and hope you bring here.”
Speaking with great emphasis, President Condé acknowledged the hope found in restorative surgeries. “People with deformities cannot live in the community. They are ashamed and they hide. When the great healing from Mercy Ships happens to them, it shows them, and everyone, that it does not matter what you look like today – there is always hope.”
Donovan Palmer talked about the improvement in health outcomes that Guinea has achieved over the past ten years, adding that, “Mercy Ships is pleased to be here to help with this progress. Through the direct specialised surgeries we will provide, along with capacity building, training and partnership activities, our goal is to increase the level of health care delivery. We could not do this without the Government of Guinea.”
Following his presentation, President Condé concluded his visit by shaking hands with every Mercy Ships volunteer at the presentation.