USS Mercy starts 2-week outreach mission today

The hospital ship USS Mercy will start today its two-week humanitarian mission in some parts of the Visayas and Mindanao, an official said yesterday.

Retired Lt. Gen. Edilberto Adan, executive director of the Presidential Commission on the Visiting Forces Agreement, said about 300 medical and construction personnel of USS Mercy will provide free health services to 15,000 patients in 37 sites in Cotabato and Western Samar.

“The mission plans to treat 180 cleft lip palate patients and conduct 20 medical-civic actions in Cotabato City, North Cotabato, Shariff Kabunsuan, Maguin­danao, Sultan Kudarat and Lanao del Norte,” Adan said in a statement.

Adan said the mission will also involve five engineering civic projects, including the repair of the main health center in Calbayog City and four medical-civic action projects in Calbayog and the towns of San Isidro, Sta. Margarita and Gandara.

US Ambassador Kristie Kenney, along with national and local government officials and ranking military officers, will grace the mission’s opening ceremony at the Polloc harbor in Cotabato today.

Adan said the hospital ship, which is on its third visit to the country, is on a five-month humanitarian assistance mission in the Western Pacific and Southeast Asia.

The partnership mission includes experts from Japan, Canada, Chile, Republic of Korea and New Zealand.

“Its medical crew is trained to provide general surgery, ophthalmology surgery, preventive medical treatment, dental and optometry screenings as well as veterinary services,” he said. – James Mananghaya, Pia Lee-Brago