Mediamen tour USNS Mercy

From the Philippine Information Agency (Jul 22): Mediamen tour USNS Mercy

Twenty – four mediamen from Iloilo and Capiz were privileged to tour around the key sections of the United States Naval Hospital Ship (USNS Mercy) currently docked near Culasi Port in Roxas City for the 2015 Pacific Partnership mission.

The hour-long tour in the 272 – meter long hospital ship involved taking elevator rides to get to the various facilities and departments of the hospital ship.

The tour included a visit to the optometry, dental, Intensive Care Unit, physical therapy as well as burn care, radiological services and blood bank departments.

The tour guides, who were US Navy personnel, also took the print and broadcast media practitioners to the ship captain’s control room and viewing deck.

Some of the USNS Mercy civilian and military staff gamely posed for souvenir photos and gladly interacted with local mediamen during the tour.

The hospital ship arrived here last July 18, with more than 900 personnel that include volunteers from non-government organizations, for the first half of its mission stop in the country for a two-week humanitarian mission in view of the Pacific Partnership 2015.

It  also anchored off Jolo in Mindanao during the Pacific Partnership 2006.

While in Roxas City, medical staff aboard Mercy will perform surgical procedures and will host community health engagements in identified locations throughout the province.

The USNS Mercy’s disaster response team will also train local rescuers and emergency responders to enhance the skills and capabilities of the local disaster response teams in the region.

Mercy will depart from Roxas City on Aug. 4 and transit to Subic Bay to continue its mission in the country.

http://news.pia.gov.ph/article/view/1001437550565/mediamen-tour-usns-mercy