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President Julius Maada Bio has celebrated Mercy Ships’ partnership with his government during the Mercy Ships Partners’ Thank You Event, held to celebrate the successful conclusion of the humanitarian organisation’s three-year mission in Sierra Leone.
The event marked a major milestone in the enduring partnership between the Government of Sierra Leone and Mercy Ships, a collaboration that has delivered life-changing surgical care, professional training, and health systems support to thousands of Sierra Leoneans.
In his welcome remarks, Mercy Ships Managing Director Matt Murray expressed appreciation to President Bio for his visionary leadership and steadfast support throughout the organisation’s operations in Sierra Leone. He commended the Government’s commitment to improving healthcare delivery and creating an enabling environment for impactful partnerships.
“Your Excellency, your leadership and commitment to improving the lives of Sierra Leoneans have been instrumental in the success of our mission. We are deeply grateful for the support we have received and for the opportunity to serve alongside the people of Sierra Leone,” Murray stated.
Speaking at the event, Mercy Ships Country Director, Dr. Sandra Lako, announced the organisation’s decision to extend its partnership with Sierra Leone through a new ten-year framework agreement, aimed at sustaining support to the country’s healthcare sector and advancing long-term capacity development.
Delivering the keynote address, President Bio expressed profound gratitude to the Mercy Ships team, healthcare professionals, volunteers, development partners, and all Sierra Leoneans who contributed to the success of the mission.
President Bio emphasised that healthcare remains a central pillar of his Government’s Human Capital Development Agenda, focusing on the importance of investing in the health and wellbeing of citizens as a foundation for sustainable national development and economic prosperity.
“Healthcare is not merely a social service; it is an investment in our people and our future. A healthy population is essential for national progress, productivity, and prosperity. That is why my government continues to prioritize healthcare as a key component of our Human Capital Development Agenda,” President Bio stated.
The President also stressed the importance of partnerships in addressing healthcare challenges across the continent, calling on African nations to champion innovative and homegrown solutions through strategic collaboration, investment, and knowledge-sharing.
He concluded by reaffirming Sierra Leone’s commitment to building a resilient healthcare system capable of meeting the needs of its citizens and expressed appreciation to Mercy Ships for its unwavering support and partnership.
