Building Capacity Together

This year marked an exciting next step for Mercy Ships’ partnership with the Pan-African Academy of Christian Surgeons (PAACS) at their first ever Continuing Professional Development Conference for PAACS alumni surgeons. It was more than just an event; it was a chance to see how our investment in training is multiplying hope across Africa.

The energy in the room was inspiring. The goal of the conference was to bring alumni from decades of training together for the first time to encourage, teach and invest in surgeons who live sacrificially every day. Mercy Ships financially supported the conference to enable those who could not afford to join to participate, but our role went well beyond sponsorship. Staff gave their time, energy, and expertise – leading sessions, facilitating discussions, and sharing technical knowledge. This is capacity building in action, and it’s a reminder that our impact is not only counted in lives healed but also in lives equipped to heal others.

At the heart of this collaboration is a strategic partnership. PAACS equips African surgeons through a rigorous five-year residency program that combines clinical training with ethical and spiritual formation. Mercy Ships strengthens that training by providing surgical rotations on the Global Mercy. These rotations expose residents to complex and less common cases, simulation-based learning, mentoring, and international best practices. It’s a unique combination that prepares surgeons to return home with greater skill, confidence, and leadership capacity.

The long-term significance is clear. By training surgeons locally, we help reduce reliance on international aid. Patients receive treatment closer to home, at lower cost, and with less disruption for families. And because Mercy Ships invests in the broader surgical ecosystem – from sterile processing and anesthesia training to physiotherapy and mentoring – the improvements extend far beyond the operating room.

We are already seeing impact. Residents report not only new technical competence but also the confidence to take on complex surgeries in their own hospitals. Ministries of Health are recognizing the value, aligning programs with national health priorities. And most importantly, patients are experiencing safer care, quicker treatment, and better outcomes.

The next step is to build on this momentum. We’ll be tracking how many of the conference participants are place on our staffing plans and will continue to foster relationship with those interested in serving together.

At Mercy Ships, this partnership with PAACS is a reminder of our bigger picture. Surgery on board is vital, but so too is multiplying impact through education and training. Our goal is not simply to train more surgeons, but to create lasting, measurable improvements in patient care across low and middle-income countries. This joint effort with PAACS was a resounding success. It showed that when we invest both our resources and our expertise, we help shape the future of surgical care in Africa. And that’s something we can all celebrate.