US Mercy ship to extend medical, even veterinary services to Samar
United States Ambassador Harry Thomas Jr. said a US Navy hospital ship -- the USNS Mercy -- has extended medical, dental, and even veterinary services to Samar, Philippines as part of its humanitarian tour to four Asian nations. During the "Kapihan sa Embahada" with journalists on Thursday, Thomas said it was "wonderful to see the treatment they give" with the help of the Philippine military and non-government organizations. Thomas noted that it was the "25th anniversary of the Mercy," which began serving as a hospital ship of the US Navy on November 8, 1986. "We also have Japanese ship, and representatives of nine nations who are providing treatment to the less fortunate," he said. He said the Philippines is the second stop of the Mercy ship in its four-nation tour. He also praised the local community for supporting the Mercy mission, saying only "a couple of Philippine doctors were supposed to show up but it turned out that 20 Filipino doctors showed up. It showed the commitment of the Philippine medical community also to help the less fortunate." A report of the news site Samar News said the enlistment of patients for the hospital ship USNS Mercy is from June 18 to 24. Samar News said the medical consultations and free check-ups for some 400 patients a day will be held from June 25 to 30. The Mercy ship was built in 1976 by the California-based National Steel and Shipbuilding Company as an oil tanker. The company converted it into a hospital ship in 1984, two years before it was acquired by the US Navy. As a hospital ship, USNS Mercy does not carry firearms and attacking it is considered as a war crime. According to the website of the USNS Mercy, the features of the ship include:
- three to four operating rooms;
- one emergency operating room;
- four intensive care unit beds;
- an isolation ward;
- 62 ward beds, and
- 22 hotel beds.
- casuality reception,
- radiological services,
- laboratory services
- medical supply/pharmacy,
- phyiscal therapy and burn care,
- dental serivces,
- optometry/lens lab,
- morgue, and
- oxygen producing plants.