News Release

Acting Surgeon General Steven K. Galson Visits Nicaragua to Recognize Continuing Promise 2009

Acting Surgeon General Steven K. Galson, M.D., M.P.H., will visit U.S. Public Health Service Commissioned Corps (USPHS) officers and other U.S. uniformed personnel during the humanitarian mission Continuing Promise 2009’s final stop in Nicaragua.  On July 4, 2009, Rear Adm. Galson will tour the U.S. Navy hospital ship USNS Comfort and recognize its medical and public health personnel as they visit communities to deliver health care services and exchange ideas and practices with local health professionals.

Continuing Promise 2009 is one of the U.S. Public Health Service (USPHS) Health Diplomacy initiatives designed to increase the operational capacity of U.S. government personnel to deliver humanitarian assistance, perform public health assessments, conduct public health infrastructure repair and provide health care training of indigenous health care workers. This is the second year the USPHS has supported Continuing Promise 2009 through deployment of its officers.

“I am honored to be in Nicaragua to celebrate partnerships and friendships that extend across international boundaries to fight against and prevent disease,” said Rear Adm. Steven K. Galson, acting Surgeon General. “Missions such as Continuing Promise 2009 illustrate how our officers stand ready to assist, protect and promote better access to health care at home and abroad.” Galson is the head of the USPHS Commissioned Corps.

The USNS Comfort departed Norfolk, Va., April 1 for its four-month deployment to Antigua, Colombia, Dominican Republic, El Salvador, Haiti, Nicaragua, and Panama. Since Continuing Promise 2009’s first stop this past April, its crew, including medical professionals from the USPHS, Navy, Army, Air Force, Coast Guard, and nongovernmental organizations have treated more than 56,000 patients.
Since the launch of the Partnership for the Americas mission in 2007, the USPHS has provided 14 rotating teams encompassing 239 officers. For more information on the USPHS role in Continuing Promise 2009 please visit www.usphs.gov. 

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Last revised: July 30, 2009