US-led mercy mission concludes in Pangasinan
CAPITOL NEWS
US Pacific Partnership concludes in Pangasinan. Governor Amado T. Espino, Jr. (5th from left) briefs the members of the press on the United States (US) Pacific Partnership 2015, where its last leg of annual multilateral humanitarian assistance and disaster relief preparedness mission was conducted in Pangasinan from August 10-12. The US Navy team was led by Capt. Brian Delamont (4th from right), mission deputy commander; and Commander Greg Montalto (3rd from right), director for medical operations. Joining the Governor are: (from left) Provincial Health Officer Ana Ma. Teresa de Guzman, Board Member Generoso Tulagan, Jr., BM Raul Sison, Vice Gov. Jose Ferdinand Z. Calimlim, Jr., Philippine Army Brigade Cmdr. Col. David Diciano (2nd from right) and Pangasinan Provincial Police Office OIC Rollie Saltat (extreme right). Photo by: MVSadim
A transnational contingent of medical professionals on board the U.S. Naval Hospital Ship, USNS Mercy, docked at the Subic Freeport, concludes its humanitarian mission to the Philippines with a three-day stay in Pangasinan extending rapid medical services in different towns in the province from August 10-12.
The Pangasinan sojourn was the fourth-leg of their mission to the country which included similar outreach efforts in Subic, Zambales, Roxas City in Capiz and Metro-Manila.
Officially known as the US Pacific Partnership, the contingent was first deployed in response to one of the world’s most catastrophic natural disasters, the December 2004 tsunami that devastated parts of Southeast Asia, killing tens of thousands of people.
During a press briefing before they started their outreach work in the province last Monday, Capt. Brian Delamont, mission deputy commander, said they were here to help the province improve its disaster response preparedness while enhancing relationships among all participants.
Delamont said that their three-day mission is just a brief stint but is only the beginning of a more lasting partnership between the participating forces in the partnership and the province of Pangasinan. He appreciated what he called the “fantastic health infrastructure” in place here.
On the part of the provincial government, Governor Amado T. Espino, Jr. explained to the news media that the mission did not bring with it equipment but was sharing members’ expertise in disaster preparedness and quick responses.
He expressed hope that the three-day stay of the contingent would be the beginning of a more lasting partnership between the province and the participating groups in the Pacific Partnership.
The group earlier turned over several boxes of medical supplies for the Pangasinan Provincial Hospital and the Lingayen District Hospital.
In their trips from Subic to the four destinations in the Philippines, the group performed emergency surgical operations in their floating hospital, donated blood to local hospitals that needed emergency supplies and extended other medical care services.
The contingent on board their floating hospital with a 1,000 patient capacity and state-of-the-art hospital facilities, will be proceeding to Vietnam from the Philippines. (Ruby R. Bernardino)
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