• Military Menu                       

• Introduction
• Systems
• Facilities
• Agencies
• Industry
• Operations
• Countries
• Hot Documents
• News
• Reports
• Policy
• Budget
• Congress
• Links

• WMD
• Intelligence
• Homeland Security
• Space

Seabees Build Remote Medical Clinic in Colombia

Navy NewsStand

Story Number: NNS070826-04
Release Date: 8/26/2007 8:51:00 AM

By Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Joan E. Kretschmer, USNS Comfort Public Affairs

LA SIERPE, Colombia (NNS) -- Personnel from hospital ship USNS Comfort (T-AH 20) laid the foundation for a clinic in La Sierpe, Aug. 24.

Construction Battalion Maintenance Unit (CBMU) 202, with the help of U.S. Navy and U.S. Public Health Service (USPHS) personnel are constructing a medical facility so that the villagers don't have to travel far for medical aid.

Usually in other countries such as Iraq, the Seabees erect from the ground up. This is the first project since the beginning of Comfort's mission that the Seabees have been able to design and construct something from scratch, said Utilitiesman 2nd Class Craig Gardener, CBMU 202.

"This project is unique to us in this mission because we are starting with fresh ground and it's actually going to be a brand new structure in and out," Gardener said.

Capt. Phil Rapp, a USPHS environmental engineer, examined the septic systems, inspected the existing water storage and consulted with local officials regarding new electrical distribution lines.

"Rapp was at the site for the first time and made invaluable contributions and recommendations addressing several areas including safe water, waste water disposal and electrical power," said USPHS Capt. Craig Shepherd, a chief environmental health officer and officer in charge of USPHS aboard Comfort.

The villagers of La Sierpe are also lending a hand, whether it's by hammering or moving materials. The assistance of the villagers is a great help to the project because it allows the Seabees more time to work on the technical aspect of the construction.

"I think everyone has welcomed us with open arms," Gardener said. "They love us being here and they are more than willing to help us complete our mission."

The Seabees have worked through considerable amounts of rain and large mud puddles with no complaints.

"There are no words for the feeling I have, that you can actually give to people who have nothing," Gardener said. "I feel really good inside."

Comfort is on a four-month humanitarian deployment to Latin America and the Caribbean providing medical treatment in a dozen countries.