A husband and wife team have returned from volunteering on the world’s largest floating hospital, the Africa Mercy.

Ken and Jill Anderson, from Leytonstone, spent nearly six months on board the ship, giving free medical care and humanitarian aid to the people of Guinea, West Africa.

Dr Anderson, a 63-year-old doctor, and his wife, 60-year-old nurse Mrs Anderson, served on board the ship since last August and frequently volunteer with Mercy Ships, the charity which runs Africa Mercy and several other similar ships in Ghana, Sierra Leone and other places.

Dr Anderson said: “Our most memorable experiences always involve the African people we work alongside and serve.”

The 400-strong crew provide medical care on board the ship, which boasts facilities including six operating theatres and a CT scanner, while also helping out at children’s orphanages and giving aid to families living on rubbish dumps. 

The doctor added: “There are a number of reasons we have volunteered so many times, the most significant being the huge medical need of the forgotten poor of West Africa.

“As Christians, we believe God wants us to give our time to help others.  You also get to meet and work with some amazingly dedicated people which is a huge positive and we have always enjoyed our previous spells on the ship.”

Guinea has one of the poorest populations in West Africa despite its mineral wealth giving it the potential to become one of Africa’s richest countries.

An influx of refugees from conflicts in neighbouring countries like Sierra Leone have put a strain on the unstable economy and increased ethnic tension, while European think-tank Crisis Group has warned it risks becoming a “failed state”.

Though the couple enjoy their volunteer work, they said it has its downsides.

Dr Anderson said: “There are, of course, always some negatives – we were not able to see our new grandchild until he was six months old as he was born two weeks after we went to Guinea - but we would be happy to volunteer again.”