USNS Comfort Begins Mission in Peru

Photo By Chief Petty Officer Aaron M Bewkes | 181030-N-RU084-1054 PAITA, Peru (Oct. 30, 2018) – Hospital Corpsman 3rd Class Michael Murphey, from Crestline, Calif., tests a patient’s glucose levels during intake at one of two medical sites. USNS Comfort (T-AH 20) is on an 11-week medical support mission to Central and South America as part of U.S. Southern Command’s Enduring Promise initiative. Working with health and government partners in Ecuador, Peru, Colombia and Honduras, the embarked medical team will provide care on board and at land-based medical sites, helping to relieve pressure on national medical systems caused partly by an increase in cross-border migrants. The deployment reflects the United States’ enduring promise of friendship, partnership and solidarity with the Americas. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class Aaron Bewkes/Released)  

ESMERALDAS, ECUADOR

10.30.2018

Story by Seaman J. Keith Wilson  

Navy Public Affairs Support Element East - (Active)

Written by Mass Communication Specialist Seaman J. Keith Wilson, 4th FLT, SOUTHCOM Public Affairs

A team comprised of more than 900 personnel, embarked aboard the hospital ship USNS Comfort (T-AH 20), commenced their second mission stop, in Paita, Peru, as part of U.S. Southern Command’s Enduring Promise initiative, Oct. 30.

“This first day has been incredibly busy with setting up the site, unpacking equipment and conducting pre-surgical screenings, which were organized by the Ministry of Health,” said Lt. Cdr. Peter McIntyre, officer-in-charge of the San Alfonso Medical Site. “Our partners, the Peruvian police, have been stellar in assisting with patient coordination at the site, and we have been working alongside Peruvian contractors to get both sites prepared for medical care later this week.”

Medical personnel, including military, non-governmental organization volunteers and members from partner nations, began screening surgical patients Tuesday, Oct. 30. The two medical sites will be fully operational beginning, Nov. 1 and will continue seeing patients for five days.

“We have an incredibly robust team with a wide ranging portfolio of medical service offerings,” said Capt. Kevin Buckley, commanding officer, Medical Treatment Facility aboard Comfort. “While Comfort is here in Paita this week, medical units will provide preventative medicine treatments, optometry, dermatology, women’s health, adult medicine, pediatrics, and dental and surgical screenings to thousands of patients. Our medical team is organized, ready and always eager to help others in need.”

This is the sixth time that Comfort has deployed to the region. Past missions have provided medical treatment to more than 390,000 patients, including 6,000 surgeries.

"Medical missions are inherently complex by nature,” said Capt. William Shafley, commander, Task Force 49. “We have a longstanding partnership with the Peruvian government that I am confident will facilitate a smooth and safe mission execution over the coming week.”

Comfort is on an 11-week medical support mission to Central and South America as part of U.S. Southern Command’s Enduring Promise initiative. Working with health and government partners in Ecuador, Peru, Colombia and Honduras, the embarked medical team will provide care on board and at land-based medical sites, helping to relieve pressure on national medical systems caused partly by an increase in cross-border migrants. The deployment reflects the United States’ enduring promise of friendship, partnership and solidarity with the Americas.

For more information, visit www.facebook.com/NAVSOUS4THFLT, www.dvidshub.net/feature/comfort2018, and www.navy.mil.

• Date Taken: 10.30.2018
• Date Posted: 11.02.2018 11:55
• Story ID: 298582
• Location: ESMERALDAS, EC