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Hospital Ship to Support Humanitarian Effort in Latin America

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The Navy’s Military Sealift Command hospital ship USNS Comfort will deploy to Central America and South America in late September to begin a two-month humanitarian mission with stops in Colombia and elsewhere in the region.

The hospital ship USNS Comfort, white with red crosses, is docked in Puerto Rico
The Navy’s Military Sealift Command hospital ship USNS Comfort, shown here arriving in San Juan, Puerto Rico on October 3, 2017, to provide medical aid to people impacted by Hurricane Maria, will deploy to Central America and South America in late September to begin a two-month humanitarian mission with stops in Colombia and elsewhere in the region. Photo by Air Force Capt. Christopher Merian
The hospital ship USNS Comfort, white with red crosses, is docked in Puerto Rico
Providers in the Storms
The Navy’s Military Sealift Command hospital ship USNS Comfort, shown here arriving in San Juan, Puerto Rico on October 3, 2017, to provide medical aid to people impacted by Hurricane Maria, will deploy to Central America and South America in late September to begin a two-month humanitarian mission with stops in Colombia and elsewhere in the region. Photo by Air Force Capt. Christopher Merian
Photo By: Air Force Capt. Christopher Meri
VIRIN: 180101-D-YE683-1013

During the deployment, military medical personnel will work alongside partners to provide needed medical assistance according to the needs defined by each stop, officials said.

Colombia’s government requested the support to relieve the pressure on the country’s national health system caused by increased population flows from Venezuela.

“This mission is a symbol of what can be accomplished when partners work together to aid people in need,” said Navy Adm. Kurt W. Tidd, commander of U.S. Southern Command, which will oversee the deployment. “Because this mission is humanitarian in nature, it will focus on the people we’re assisting, on the nations we’re partnering with, and on the region we’re supporting together.”

This marks the sixth hospital ship deployment to the region since 2007, and reflects the steadfast U.S. commitment of friendship and solidarity with the Americas, Southcom officials said.

 

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