Health Diplomacy Weekly Update
Week # 3: 28 June – 4 July
In response to both Presidential and Secretarial initiatives, the Office of Force Readiness and Deployment in the Office of Public Health and Science’s Office of the Surgeon General, is currently deploying teams of commissioned officers on two separate Navy ships undertaking health diplomacy missions. The USNS COMFORT is on a 4 month mission to 12 countries in Latin America and the Caribbean. The USS PELELIU is on a 3 month mission to 6 Pacific Rim and Pacific Island countries.
USNS COMFORT
USPHS Officer-in-Charge (OIC): CAPT Craig Shepherd
- COMFORT arrived in Guatemala 27 June. They are now underway to Panama.
- Current USPHS detachment: 6 physicians, 2 dentists, 4 dental hygienists, 2 nurses, 2 environmental health officers (including OIC), 1 engineer, 1 veterinarian.
- USPHS Team 1 began making visits ashore in Guatemala visiting several sites, including; Livingston Clinic, Puerto Barrios National Hospital and the Children’s Hospital in Puerto Barrios (Seabees project, June 27-July1). Everyone going ashore had long days, leaving at the crack of dawn 0530 and some returning at 2000, then departmental briefings at 2100.
- Due to depth of water the USNS COMFORT anchored 9 mile out from shore. Transportation took considerable time and logistics in getting the providers and support staff where they needed to be each and every day. Reports back from USPHS officers that were at two sites (National Hospital and Livingston Clinic) stated that they were overwhelmed with Guatemalan people hoping to receive healthcare. Several patients that were screened and determined to be good candidates for surgery aboard the USNS COMFORT were airlifted by helicopter or rode the various boats serving the USNS COMFORT throughout the day. Most patients are accompanied by friend/family as well.
- A Commissioned Corps promotion ceremony was held 3 July for 5 USPHS officers on the flight deck of the USNS COMFORT while the ship was underway to Panama. The ceremony was conducted by CAPT Craig Shepherd. Commodore Robert Kapcio and Commanding Officer Bruce Boynton both played prominent roles in the ceremony. The Navy Band played some patriotic songs before the ceremony actually began. They played the PHS march once the ceremony began. The Commanding Officer along with one other officer (including one Navy officer) helped change the boards of those being promoted.
USS PELELIU
USPHS OIC: CAPT Kathleen Downs
- PELELIU has been functioning in the Bicol region of the Philippines. It will leave the region on 8 July, heading for Da Nang, Vietnam.
- Current USPHS detachment: 1 physician, 2 environmental engineers, 1 pharmacist (OIC)
- CAPT Watson, CDR Devoney and LCDR Sallach continue their work addressing public health needs of an internally displaced persons (IDP) camp outside Legaspi, Philippines.
- Medical and dental services provided ashore: Days start very early; depending on transportation method (either MH-53 helicopter or LCU – amphibious boat) usually somewhere around 0430 and end an exhausting 16-17 hours later. Heat index is very high, typically 106-110. Majority of site activities are being performed in tents – with no electricity, no fans, no A/C. Dental is utilizing battery operated head-gear to provide enough light into patient’s mouth for extractions.
- Once on-site, tents set up, registration lines established – medical and dental services are typically provided for ~ 6-7 hours before returning to the ship.
- Thousands of patients have been seen so far.
View Previous updates:
Page last modified: June 29, 2007