TERNATE, Indonesia – An opening ceremony was held in the palace of the Sultan of Ternate, His Highness, Sultan Drs. H. Mudaffar Sjah II, Msi., July 19, welcoming Pacific Partnership 2010 to its second of three leg visit here.
USNS Mercy, HMAS Labuan, and HMAS Tarakan will be supporting a seven-day visit, Pacific Partnership’s first to Ternate and its surrounding areas.
“Thank you for being here today as we celebrate the continuation of a true collaborative effort between the people of Indonesia and the many partner nations and non-governmental organizations that make up the Pacific Partnership team,” said Capt. Lisa M. Franchetti, mission commander of Pacific Partnership 2010.
“It is a wonderful opportunity for Pacific Partnership to return to Indonesia, building on the relationships previously created during USNS Mercy’s response to the devastating tsunami in 2004 and her return visit in 2006.”
Also in attendance at the opening ceremony were Consul General of the United States, Kristen Bauer, the Governor of North Maluku Province, Drs. H. Thaib Armaiyn, military and government officials, members of the Sultan’s court, and Mr. H. Ali Amal Tomagola, the last surviving Ternate World War II veteran, who fought alongside Gen. Douglas McArthur and helped orchestrate the escape of the Sultan when the island was occupied by Japanese forces.
Near the conclusion of the ceremony, gifts were exchanged and guests had the unique opportunity to view the royal crown –an item typically not on display.
Pacific Partnership 2010 will spend seven days in Ternate, a part of the North Maluku Province, offering medical, dental, veterinary, and engineering assistance as well as community service projects.
Nine medical and dental civic action program sites in Jailolo, Mare Island, Sofifi, Ternate, and Tidore expect to treat thousands of patients over the duration of the visit. In addition to these medical clinics, surgeries will take place aboard Mercy.
In addition to providing medical treatment to the local people of Ternate, the Pacific Partnership 2010 team will be assisting in other areas of expertise. Biomedical equipment repair will also take place during the mission, providing cost-effective repairs to expensive medical machinery. Veterinary care and subject matter expert exchanges on preventive medicine and animal care are planned for Jailolo as well.
Five community service events, with the goal of social interaction between the Mercy crew, partner nations, and local Indonesians are designed to further strengthen bonds with the local population.
“Our community service volunteers are looking forward to our visit in Ternate. We will be visiting numerous orphanages in the area. These are great opportunities for our team to touch the lives of others and build relationships. Our volunteers always have so much fun with the children. We usually have the opportunity to do coloring, singing, playing soccer, and just enjoying each other’s company,” said Chaplain Lt. Derrick Horne.
Engineering civic action programs will take place to renovate Puskesmas Kalumpang as well as the Sulamadaha Clinic. ENCAPs are made possible through a collaborative effort between the U.S. Navy Seabees, Australian Defence Force Second Combat Engineer Regiment, and other volunteers from the U.S. and the host nation.
Mercy’s visit to Indonesia is the longest stop for Pacific Partnership 2010. At the conclusion of the Ternate visit, the mission will resume operations in Ambon, the last leg of the Indonesian visit.
Pacific Partnership 2010, the fifth in a series of annual U.S. Pacific Fleet endeavors conducted in Indonesia as a disaster relief exercise, is aimed at strengthening regional relationships with host and partner nations in Southeast Asia and Oceania.