Photos CORINTO, Nicaragua -- Navy Capt. Kristen Zeller, ophthalmologist on board USNS Comfort with the help of Hospital Corpsman 3rd Class Michael Peterson correct an eight-month-old Salvadoran boy’s crossed eyes in the operating room of Comfort July 7. The boy and his mother drove six hours from La Union, El Salvador, to receive surgery onboard Comfort. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Benjamin Stratton) More Continuing Promise PHOTOS   Video: 7/2/2009: The U.S. Navy's "All Hands" TV feature on the USNS Comfort humanitarian mission.   6/1/2009: Comfort mission shows renewed Military Health System humanitarian focus. MORE  CONTINUING PROMISE VIDEOS   Mission BLOG:   Map of Mission:   Key Points:   The hospital ship COMFORT’s deployment to the region in support of U.S. 4th Fleet’s CP09 is a demonstration of the United States’ continued commitment to the Caribbean, Central and South American nations.     The medical collaboration that took place during  CP09 contributed to the sharing of health-care knowledge and best practices and provides patients with access to quality medical care at no cost.     In addition to providing humanitarian assistance, CP09 provided valuable experience to learn from host nation and civilian experts. This experience helps ensure the U.S. military is able to rapidly respond in support of disaster response efforts in the future.     The relationships built and sustained with our multinational partners in the Caribbean, Central and South America during exercises, training activities and exchanges enhance our ability to work collectively in support of humanitarian efforts and other collaborative security activities in the region.     CP09 deployment to the region builds on and encourages the establishment of new partnerships between/ among nations, NGOs and international organizations. Collaborating with non-governmental organizations is important because they provide assistance to the host nation countries on a continued basis.

Continuing Promise 2009 services provided:   Patients treated:           100,049 Surgeries conducted:         1,657 Prescriptions filled:        135,000 Dental patients:               15,003 Animals treated:              13,238   Seabees also completed 13 constuction projects ranging from minor renovations of facilities to building new schools.   Current Status: USNS Comfort wrapped up operations in Nicaragua July 14, completing the seventh and final mission of the Continuing Promise deployment. The ship returned to Norfolk on July 31.   Mission Details: USNS Comfort departed Norfolk, Va. April 1, beginning a four-month deployment to Antigua, Colombia, Dominican Republic, El Salvador, Haiti, Nicaragua, and Panama.  Each visit lasted about 10-12 days.    Continuing Promise 2009 is an annual humanitarian civic assistance operation supported by U.S. and international military medical personnel, U.S. government agencies, regional health ministries, non-governmental organizations (NGOs) and U.S. academic institutions.  U.S. Naval Forces Southern Command and U.S. 4th Fleet (NAVSO/4th Fleet) were the main planning and coordination commands for the Continuing Promise mission.   This was the fourth such mission to the region since 2007 and is Comfort’s second (Comfort’s 2007 mission).     Comfort is operated and navigated by a crew of about 70 civil service mariners from the U.S. Navy’s Military Sealift Command.   Embarked Medical Teams: The medical/dental/veterinary crew included about 650 medical professionals from the Navy, Army, Air Force, Coast Guard and U.S. Public Health Service, non-governmental organizations (NGOs) and other international partners.   Antigua & Barbuda, Brazil, Canada, Dominican Republic, El Salvador, France, Haiti, the Netherlands, Nicaragua and Panama also provided medical professionals for the mission.   Embarked Engineering Crew: A team of about 20 Navy Seabees supported community construction and repair projects.   Medical /Dental services provided: The primary focus of the medical teams was to provide a range of health care services ashore.  On a case-by-case basis, select patients received medical or dental care on the ship.   The Continuing Promise teams partnered with local health care providers and community officials to provide free medical care to communities with limited access to medical treatment.   These services included general surgery, ophthalmologic surgery, basic medical evaluation and treatment, preventive medicine treatment, dental screenings and treatment, optometry screenings, eyewear distribution, veterinary services, and public health training (plus additional specialties as applicable).  Follow-up treatments were arranged with local medical professionals.   Construction/engineering services provided The civic action programs were designed to assist each participating nation in providing local communities with a wide range of construction capabilities. Navy Seabees completed 13 projects in the seven nations.  Projects included building repairs and improvements, new small construction projects, utility system repairs and construction/ technical assistance, pier repair, drainage projects and trenching.   Donations and Support: Comfort also delivered more than $4 million of donated aid (food, medical supplies) to selected nations.  The donations were provided by a more than 20 of humanitarian relief organizations and were handed over to established aid distribution officials ashore.   Training: The personnel involved in Continuing Promise received a wide array of training in how to plan and coordinate a broad spectrum of humanitarian assistance and disaster response missions.  An important objective of this deployment was to capitalize on high-quality medical capabilities by taking these skills to places where they are needed and teaming up with host-nation medical and dental professionals. This opportunity was unique and will provide training opportunities and venues that are not easily simulated. Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs) participating: More than 270 volunteers from numerous NGOs took part, including Food for the Poor, International Aid, Latter Day Saints Ministries, Operation Smile and Project Hope, representatives from the University of California-San Diego Pre-Dental Society, University of Miami, and various in-country groups (medical student translators).   Additional donations of personnel and support were provided by the Lions Club, Nour International Relief Aid Foundation, Rotary Club, Haitian Resource Development Foundation, Hugs Across America, The Wheelchair Foundation, Rabies Control Partnerships, Institute of the Americas, International Aid,  Agua Viva, and Paul Chester Children’s Hope Foundation.  Partner nation support: Seventy-one medical professionals from Antigua & Barbuda, Brazil, Canada, Dominican Republic, El Salvador, France, Haiti, the Netherlands, Nicaragua and Panama served on the CP09 team and developed lasting professional and personal relationships.    About USNS Comfort: USNS Comfort is one of two Military Sealift Command hospital ships that can rapidly respond to a range of situations on short notice.  The ship is uniquely capable of providing health services support as an element of humanitarian assistance and disaster relief, and has been configured to provide a range of services at sea and ashore. The ship provided support in New York City following the Sept. 11, 2001 attacks and in the Gulf Coast region in the aftermath of Hurricanes Katrina and Rita in 2005.   Background: This is the fourth humanitarian and civic assistance naval deployment to the region, following Comfort’s 2007 deployment, and USS Boxer’s (LHD 4) and USS Kearsarge’s (LHD 3) Continuing Promise 2008 deployment  to the region. In total, more than 169,000 patients have been treated and more than 1,500 surgeries completed during the three previous deployments.    Links of NGO/academic mission partners:   Food for the Poor University of Miami     Haitian Resource Development Foundation Hugs Across America Institute of the Americas International Aid Lions Club Operation Smile Paul Chester Children’s Hope Foundation Project Hope Rabies Control Partnerships Rotary Club San Diego Pre-Dental Society Wheelchair Foundation Latter Day Saints Philanthropies