A couple are to embark on a life-saving mission onboard the world's largest charity hospital ship.   

Reverend Hilary Cheng, 54, of Chingford's three Methodist churches in Winchester Road, Highams Park, and Station Road and New Road in Chingford, and her husband Dr Leo Cheng, will travel to Madagascar on February 19. 

It will be couple's third mission together onboard the Africa Mercy, which offers medical assistance and help with sustainable development to some of the world's poorest regions. 

The family moved to The Ridgeway in Chingford in September last year, to enable Mrs Cheng to take up her new appointment.

In 2014, the Cheng family travelled to the Republic of Congo with their two daughters Kat, 22, a qualified nurse who volunteered as a health care assistant, and Zoe, 19, an undergraduate student who worked as a cook. 

Mrs Cheng works as the ship's chaplain and offers pastoral care to patients before and after surgery. 

This will be the twelfth trip for Dr Cheng, 53, an oral consultant and maxillofacial surgeon at The Royal London Hospital. 

He operates on people with deformities, such as neck and face tumours, hernias, cleft lip, and trauma injuries sustained through civil war. 

He said: "I didn’t expect to operate on my first mission but that is exactly what I ended up doing for two weeks.

"I have removed tumours the size of melons which in this country would have never progressed to that stage. 

"People in need of reconstructive facial surgery are often completely ostracised by family and friends, for example, a person with a cleft palate is seen as the work of a devil. 

"Working for the NHS puts you in good stead on the Mercy Ship because everyone is entitled to the same level of care, regardless of money or background."

The ship contains five operating theatres, x-ray facilities including a CT scanner, a pharmacy, laboratory and an intensive care unit. 

It has the capacity to accommodate 450 volunteers and treat 82 in-patients. 

The couple are using the two-week trip as part of their annual leave.

Christian charity Mercy Ships have travelled to more than 70 countries and helped over two million people.