About Us
HelpMercy International, Incorporated is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, founded in 2004 by Lloyd Williams, M.D., Ph.D., while he was a medical student at Tufts University School of Medicine.
Our Story
Our name and our story begin with Mercy, a young girl in Zambia who suffered devastating third-degree burns in 2001. Treated at Macha Mission Hospital, Mercy endured unimaginable pain and loss, including the use of her fingers. Yet, with the help of reconstructive surgery, she regained function in her hands and a chance at a normal life.
What started as an effort to restore one little girl’s future has grown into a mission to bring healing and hope to entire communities. In partnership with African healthcare teams, HelpMercy International now supports programs that fight blindness, treat HIV/AIDS, improve burn care, and provide vital nutrition for children and families.
For more than two decades, our work has expanded from Macha Mission Hospital in Zambia to the front lines of blindness prevention in Sierra Leone and across West Africa. From the first-ever corneal transplant in Sierra Leone to developing a Center of Excellence for eye care, our focus remains the same: to reduce needless suffering and build a future where every person has access to quality healthcare.
Mercy in 2007
Mercy in 2007
Our boldest goal: to cure avoidable blindness in Sierra Leone and set a new standard of compassionate, high-quality healthcare that can be replicated throughout West Africa.
Transformative Achievements
Performed Sierra Leone’s first-ever corneal transplant in 2021
Leads efforts with the Cure Blindness Project in South Sudan to develop ophthalmology and nursing education programs that expand local surgical capacity.
Helped establish an eye bank at Sardjito Hospital in Yogyakarta, Indonesia,
in 2024
Helped bring eye care access to over 150,000 residents of Roatán, Honduras through the Health in Sight Mission
Performs hundreds of cataract surgeries and corneal transplants annually in underserved regions
Launched the Duke Global Ophthalmology Fellowship in July 2025, training the next generation of cornea and global ophthalmology leaders
Our Founder
We are proud to share that Lloyd Williams, MD, PhD, founder of HelpMercy International, has been awarded the 2025 Outstanding Humanitarian Service Award by the American Academy of Ophthalmology (AAO). This prestigious honor recognizes Dr. Williams’ extraordinary, sustained commitment to curing blindness and expanding access to eye care worldwide.
Dr. Williams currently serves as Associate Professor of Ophthalmology, Director of Duke Global Ophthalmology, and affiliate of the Duke Global Health Institute. His work spans continents and decades, with a mission rooted in one belief: no one should suffer needlessly from preventable blindness.
Dr. Williams is also a sought-after international speaker and cornea expert, having delivered lectures at leading global conferences including the Asia Cornea Society, the National Congress of the Indonesian Ophthalmologist Association, and the Caribbean College of Family Physicians.
The AAO will present this award on October 18, 2025, during the opening session of AAO 2025 in Orlando, Florida.
This recognition celebrates not only Dr. Williams’ extraordinary humanitarian service, but also the mission of HelpMercy International: to reduce human suffering and cure preventable blindness across Africa and the world.
Dr. Williams is also a sought-after international speaker and cornea expert, having delivered lectures at leading global conferences including the Asia Cornea Society, the National Congress of the Indonesian Ophthalmologist Association, and the Caribbean College of Family Physicians.
The AAO will present this award on October 18, 2025, during the opening session of AAO 2025 in Orlando, Florida.
This recognition celebrates not only Dr. Williams’ extraordinary humanitarian service, but also the mission of HelpMercy International: to reduce human suffering and cure preventable blindness across Africa and the world.