USNS Comfort Officials to Make 'Needs Assessment' in Peru
Navy NewsStand
Story Number: NNS070820-06
Release Date: 8/20/2007 2:20:00 PM
From American Forces Press Service
WASHINGTON (NNS) -- Two military medical officials on board USNS Comfort (T-AH 20) will join a U.S. military mobile surgical team in Lima, Peru, to assist victims recovering from a magnitude 8 earthquake that struck the country Aug. 15 and claimed at least 500 lives.
Assistant Secretary of Defense for Health Affairs, Dr. S. Ward Casscells said he and Rear Adm. David J. Smith, the Joint Staff surgeon, will fly to the Peruvian capital. Casscells visited Comfort and the ship’s medical care work sites in Manta, Aug. 17.
“A group of us are heading over to do needs assessment, to thank the people involved, to be sure that all of our people are safe and to see what we can do to assist,” Casscells said.
“The point of getting there early, for my team, is to say that we care about this, that humanitarian relief counts, that we will set aside other things to go there, that the United States cares about Peru, that we thank them for looking after our students and citizens who are down there,” he said.
Casscells said those affected by the earthquake need clean water, water treatment materials, food and blankets. Others may require surgery, immunizations or vitamins, he said.
U.S. Southern Command announced Aug. 17 that it will deploy a joint U.S. military mobile surgical team from Joint Task Force Bravo, based at Soto Cano Air Base in Honduras, to aid relief efforts.
The 30-member U.S. Army and Air Force surgical team will include a general surgeon, anesthesiologist, general practitioner, physician’s assistant, nurses and medical technicians, and will partner with the U.S. Embassy, as well as Peruvian defense and health officials, to provide specialized medical services to area residents.
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