• Military Menu                       

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

• WMD
• Intelligence
• Homeland Security
• Space

Pacific Partnership Reaches Remote Region in Timor-Leste

Navy NewsStand

Story Number: NNS080724-10
Release Date: 7/24/2008 5:04:00 PM

By Lt. Arwen Chisholm, Pacific Partnership Public Affairs

VIQUEQUE, Timor-Leste (NNS) -- A team of health care providers from the U.S. military, the non-governmental organization Project Hope and tje U.S. Public Health Service flew to the remote, isolated village of Viqueque in Timor-Leste July 15.

The Pacific Partnership team remained on site four days, conducting medical care for those in the area as part of a medical civic action program (MEDCAP).

"It was very rural [with] little electricity - a close-to-the-earth type of community," said U.S. Navy Capt. John Parrish, an internist attached to USNS Mercy (T-AH 19).

"First, we identified those with surgical diseases to get them to the ship quickly for treatment. Next, we treated infectious diseases with antibiotics to reverse the symptoms, and finally [we] provided primary care," Parrish said.

Patients who needed surgery aboard the Mercy were transported via MH-60S helicopter. This helicopter ride was a first for many patients from Viqueque.

"It was an amazing thing for them to fly us from Viqueque to here," said Ethelbina Fretas, the mother of a patient treated aboard the Mercy.

Four years ago, her son Joseda Costa fell out of a tree and landed on a stake, stabbing him through the abdomen. Costa received a colostomy, yet his intestines were never reconnected after his initial treatment.

"In the U.S. a colostomy is treated a year or two after the initial surgery," said Parrish. "We treated the patient and performed a takedown (colostomy reversal)."

The surgery was successful and Costa recovered aboard the Mercy.

"I am very happy. It has been four years with this illness. With your presence here it helped him get better," said Fretas of her son's surgery. "We are really happy to have the Mercy here. We hope you will return another time for the people who need this miracle assistance."

Fretas' son was one of the thousands of patients seen and treated at the MEDCAP in Viqueque.

"We had community interaction every night," said Parrish. "It was pretty relaxing, no e-mail, no cell phones, no TV. We would figure out the constellations and talked a lot. We built good will."

The medical team built friendships with the Timorese by the end of their four days in Viqueque.

"They felt comfortable with us by the end. They all wanted us to stay longer. They appreciated our help and wanted us to come back soon."

For more news from Pacific Partnership 2008, visit www.navy.mil/local/PP08/.