Embassy of the United States in Manila

About the U.S. Embassy

Office of the Ambassador

Office of the DCM

Management Section

Economic Section

Political Section

Public Affairs Section

Other U.S. Government Agencies

The American Residence in Baguio

Ambassador's Speeches

Speeches and Press Releases

The Washington File

Electronic Journals

About the Consular Section

Key Consular Officers

Contact the Consular Section

What's New

American Citizens Services

Immigrant Visa Information

Immigrant Visa Priority Dates

Non-Immigrant Visa Information

National Visa Center

Download NIV Instruction Sheet

Track Your Passport/Visa

Visa Appointment Date

Library of Congress

First Gov

Official US Executive Branch Web Sites

Judiciary Branch

Legislative Branch

US Mission to the Asian Development Bank

Contact the US Embassy

USNS Mercy Hospital Ship Provides Humanitarian Aid During Its Visit to Samar and Mindanao

The U.S. Navy hospital ship, USNS Mercy, appears sitting at the end of a rainbow against the blue skies off Maguindanao Province in southern Philippines. The Mercy is conducting a two-week goodwill outreach mission to provide humanitarian and civic assistance to the people of Cotabato and other parts of Mindanao as well as Samar. The ship is equipped to provide a variety of medical services. Aside from surgeries and treatment aboard the ship, joint medical teams from the Mercy and the Philippine military conducted humanitarian assistance and community outreach activities at selected areas in Mindanao and Samar.
The “Sea Bees” collaborate with AFP Engineers building the Calbayog City Main Health Clinic Project as part of the USNS Mercy Mission in Calbayog City, Samar. The Sea Bees and the AFP collaborated on 5 joint engineering projects throughout Samar including the construction of the Calbayog City Main Health Center, renovations to the municipal health center in Sta. Margarita, repairs to the Botika Ng Barangay pharmacy, construction of a water system at the Gandara District Hospital in Gandara and erecting a septic tank in Greenland Subdivision.
U.S. Navy Capt. William A. Kearns and Philippine Navy Capt. Crispin P. Mercado, Co-Directors for the USNS Mercy’s Pacific Partnership 2008 mission in the Republic of the Philippines, travel via boat from the hospital ship USNS Mercy (T-AH 19) to Polloc Pier in Parang Harbor to attend the opening ceremony for the 2008 mission of the Mercy.
Lt. CDR. Sean Stroup of USNS Mercy and local student nurse examine a child during a free medical mission at Silik Elementary School.
Philippine soldiers and U.S. Navy SeaBees from the USNS Mercy work to construct a new roof of a support center for the midwives center at Tamontaka Health Center.
Four Filipinos give a thumbs-up to the camera after successfully receiving vision restoration surgery from U.S. Navy Cmdr. Kenneth Kubis (right) aboard the Mercy. USNS Mercy is a specially designed ship that is equipped to provide a variety of medical services such as optometry screenings, burn care, preventative medicine, dental screenings and treatment, veterinary care, and surgery. In addition to the surgeries and treatment aboard the ship, teams of doctors and engineers are providing humanitarian assistance and community-outreach activities at various locations in and around Cotabato, Iligan, and Datu Piang, and Maguindanao in Mindanao, as well as Samar.
Ruben Bas-Awan and U.S. Army Capt. Rose Grimm administer a vaccination to a water buffalo. During the USNS Mercy Pacific Partnership 2008 mission, veterinarians from the Armed Forces of the Philippines and the U.S. Army and Navy are examining, treating, and vaccinating hundreds of animals in the southern Philippines, including cows, goats, and horses.
Musician 2nd Class Robert Taylor teaches a child basic drum techniques during a USNS Mercy medical mission at Poblacion Elementary School. The Pacific Fleet Band and a traditional Maguindanao folk group shared their music throughout the day, entertaining patients who were waiting for free medical assistance.

Last Update :: 06/10/2008

This site is produced and maintained by the Public Affairs Section of the U.S. Embassy Manila.
Links to other Internet sites should not be construed as an endorsement of the views contained therein.
Privacy Notice and Disclaimer