From the shores of West Africa, a dedicated group of healthcare professionals has been recognized for their compassion and commitment, becoming the first team to receive the DAISY Team Award from Mercy Ships in an African context. The award honors the work of a palliative care team serving aboard the Global Mercy, the world’s largest civilian hospital ship, currently docked in Sierra Leone.
The award-winning team—comprising volunteer nurses from the United States and the Netherlands, along with two key crew members from Sierra Leone—has been recognized for delivering care that goes beyond conventional medical treatment. Their holistic approach, focused on relieving the suffering of patients with incurable conditions, represents a new model of nursing on the continent: more humane, more compassionate, and deeply connected to African realities.
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According to Tami Honnen, Director of Nursing at Mercy Ships, the team represents “a model of hope in situations of deep vulnerability.” Honnen highlights that beyond medical care, the team also provides emotional, spiritual, and even financial support to families affected by life-altering illness.
The award also underscores the vital role of Africans within humanitarian missions themselves. Samuel Tamba Essah and Gloria Cobba, both from Sierra Leone, have played a key role in culturally adapting the team’s approach—demonstrating that local knowledge and community empathy are essential for delivering dignified care. Both bring experience in humanitarian work, advocacy, and family counseling.
For the DAISY Foundation, which promotes global recognition of nursing excellence, the award marks a significant milestone. Co-founder Bonnie Barnes stated, “Honoring an international team with African roots shows that excellence in care knows no borders. What they provide is a powerful example of nursing at its finest.”
For over three decades, Mercy Ships has partnered with African governments to increase access to safe surgeries and medical training. This recognition not only celebrates a compassionate act, but also highlights Africa’s growing leadership in building a more just, empathetic, and resilient healthcare system.
