From War to Humanitarian Mission: The Extraordinary Destiny of a Survivor
In celebration of Sterile Surgical Processing Week, which highlights the vital role of professionals in the field, Mercy Ships ( www.MercyShips.org ) is proud to highlight one of its crew members: Frank Seibure, a Sierra Leonean volunteer whose hard work helps safely care for surgical patients across Africa.
This year's theme, "Service with Meaning," reflects the dedication of sterile processing professionals, who ensure every instrument is clean, sterile, and ready to save lives.
Aboard Mercy Ships hospital ships, Frank does meticulous work ensuring the safety of every instrument. His high standards protect patients and contribute to the success of lifesaving surgeries. "If instruments aren't properly sterilized, patients can end up with more complications than when they arrived ," he explains.
Before dedicating himself to scrubs and sterile trays, Frank was already serving his community as a youth human rights defender. Having witnessed the harsh realities of his country's civil war as a child, he grew up determined to make a difference.
This vocation eventually led him to Mercy Ships in 2011, where he began as a member of the national crew in the sterilization department. With no prior experience, but driven by a deep altruism, Frank threw himself into the training, quickly becoming a full-fledged member of the volunteer crew and later a certified sterilization healthcare professional.
“My greatest motivation is to have an impact on society, to help those in need and to serve humanity ,” says Frank.
Sterile processing is often considered the heart of a hospital, as any failure in this process can have serious consequences. Improperly sterilized instruments can expose patients to the risk of contamination and cause potential outbreaks. Contrary to popular belief, sterile processing is not simply about cleaning tools. It is a discipline requiring extensive knowledge, integrating both life sciences and engineering.
Last month, Surgical Directions published its latest report, Invisible Yet Essential: Knowledge Demands and the Staffing Crisis in Sterile Processing ( https://apo-opa.co/4hiL0cY ), which revealed a growing risk to patient safety related to chronic staff shortages and underinvestment in sterile processing services. This position remains one of the most difficult to fill due to its high knowledge requirements.
Beyond his hospital duties, Frank also finds joy in training others, passing on his knowledge to new volunteers and local healthcare professionals, many of whom have become leaders in the field.
“The highlight of my experience at Mercy Ships is having trained many young people to become sterilization technicians ,” he explains.
Through Mercy Ships, Frank's influence has spread to several countries. He continues to learn from the rich cultural diversity represented on board and has seen his mission strengthen his natural leadership qualities.
The Emissary
