Humanitarian Award Presented to Mercy Ships Founder

Garden Valley, TX, May 25, 2011 – The Embassy of the Republic of Sierra Leone in Washington, D.C., has announced that Don Stephens, President/Founder of Mercy Ships, is the recipient of the Diamond Award for his contribution to the development of Sierra Leone – particularly, in the field of health. The award is presented from the Embassy of Sierra Leone, in collaboration with the Sierra Leone Diaspora in North America.

“I am honored to receive this meaningful award,” says Stephens. “Thank you for recognizing the work of Mercy Ships. Each humanitarian act is a reflection of hundreds of people working together toward a common goal.”  

Mercy Ships has served the nation of Sierra Leone five times in the last 18 years. Their state-of-the-art hospital ship, the Africa Mercy, is currently docked in Freetown, Sierra Leone, for a 10-month Field Service providing surgeries, dental care, eye care, and health care training to the country. The services Mercy Ships provides are carefully aligned with Sierra Leone’s 5-year National Health Sector Strategic Plan.

Since their first visit in 1992, Mercy Ships has impacted the lives of hundreds of thousands of individuals in Sierra Leone. Through tumor removal, cataract repair, cleft lip and palate repair, dental work and medical training, many Sierra Leoneans have been given the chance to live productive lives again. Thanks to Mercy Ships, their quality of life has greatly improved.  

The Africa Mercy has six operating theaters, a 78-bed hospital ward, a CT Scan, an X-ray machine and laboratory services. The ship has capacity to perform 7,000 surgical interventions per year. Staffed by a volunteer crew, the humanitarian work done by Mercy Ships is truly an act of love for others in need. Don Stephens, the visionary of the organization, leads the charge in bringing hope and healing to Sierra Leone and other West African nations.

“Even after the ship departs, our capacity training will have us involved in Sierra Leone for years to come. We pray Sierra Leone will become again what it was a half-century ago – a prosperous leader in the region,” states Stephens.

In celebration of their 50^th Independence Anniversary, the Embassy is hosting The Sierra Leone@50 Awards Ceremony and Banquet on May 28, 2011, at Martin’s Crosswind in Greenbelt, Maryland. The event will gather dignitaries from academia, the political arena, sports and entertainment for an evening of reminiscence, celebration and entertainment in a banquet setting.

The Diamond Award is the highest award in the Sierra Leone@50 Humanitarian Award category.

ABOUT MERCY SHIPS: Mercy Ships uses hospital ships to deliver free, world-class health care services, capacity building and sustainable development to those without access in the developing world.  Founded in 1978 by Don and Deyon Stephens, Mercy Ships has worked in more than 70 countries providing services valued at more than $834 million, impacting more than 2.9 million direct beneficiaries. Each year Mercy Ships has more than 1,200 volunteers from over 40 nations.  Professionals including surgeons, dentists, nurses, health care trainers, teachers, cooks, seamen, engineers, and agriculturalists donate their time and skills to the effort.  Mercy Ships seeks to become the face of love in action, bringing hope and healing to the poor. For more information click on www.mercyships.org

Contact Information
Claire Bufe, US Public Relations
us.media@mercyships.org
903.939.7017