One month as Country Director...

 

16 October 2022. How time flies! It’s been one month since I started my role as Country Director - Sierra Leone with Mercy Ships. What an adventure it’s been already! 

It started with a flight to Senegal on day 1, then training and orientation over 12 days, a flight back to Freetown with a few days to prepare for an executive visit, meeting with high level government officials, the President of Sierra Leone announcing the Global Mercy’s visit in 2023, a few days to prepare for another visit, welcoming team members for the 3 week long assessment visit, and now engaging with (future) partners to listen and learn about the health system, to inform our program design.  

I’ll write more once the assessment visit has come to an end! For now, I’m grateful and excited. 

#globalhealth #globalsurgery #safesurgery #mercyships #partnership

Exciting transition into new role with Mercy Ships...

I’m super excited to announce my appointment as Country Director - Sierra Leone with Mercy Ships, commencing 16 September, based in Freetown!! 

What a great opportunity to represent Mercy Ships and work alongside the Sierra Leone government, health sector, partners and healthcare workers to see how the organisation can complement ongoing efforts to improve access and quality of healthcare services. 

I have a long history with both Mercy Ships and Sierra Leone. One of the ships was my childhood home for 14 years, and after studying medicine in The Netherlands, I moved to Sierra Leone, which has been my home for the past 17 years! I also worked for a Mercy Ships medical project here from 2005-2009 and have taken many patients to the ship for surgical care. It’s my worlds coming together. 

I’ll miss my AWC family and patients but I’m looking forward to this next adventure.

#sierraleone #mercyships #hopeandhealing #globalhealth #globalsurgery #partnership #equity #transformation #restoringhope #safesurgerysaveslives 
PC: Mercy Ships