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Pacific Partnership Treats Nearly 10,000, Departs Timor-Leste

Navy NewsStand

Story Number: NNS080726-06
Release Date: 7/26/2008 8:19:00 AM

By Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class (SW/AW) Danny Hayes

DILI, Timor-Leste (NNS) -- The Pacific Partnership 2008 team said farewell to the people of Timor-Leste as the hospital ship, USNS Mercy (T-AH 19) departed the new nation July 25..

Timor-Leste was the third partner nation Pacific Partnership 2008 visited on its humanitarian civic assistance mission. Medical, dental and engineering experts from the U.S. military, Australia, Canada, India, Indonesia, Portugal, the Republic of Korea and numerous non-governmental organizations worked with the local Timorese government providing assistance both ashore and afloat. The Pacific Partnership mission brought these professionals to help the people of Timor-Leste at the request of the host nation.

According to the Pacific Partnership 2008 public affairs officer, Lt. Arwen Chisholm, members travelling aboard the ship, as well as the people who were treated during this 13-day mission benefitted from this visit.

"Not only did we treat more than 9,800 patients both ashore and afloat, to include 270 surgeries, we also had the opportunity to interact with the Timorese one-on-one. The personal interaction and friendship will stay with the people in Timor long after Mercy sails."

In addition, Seabees from the Naval Mobile Construction Battalion 133 and Amphibious Construction Battalion 1 performed repair and construction projects at Metinaro Community Center and Bario Pite Elementary School.

The U.S. Pacific Fleet Band also performed concerts at Bario Pite Elementary, Palacio Do Governo, Caritas, and Nurlan 1 Primary School during the visit.

The world has had an interest in Timor-Leste during the past nine years with the United Nations supervising the people's vote for independence from Indonesia in 1999.

"The United States maintains a keen interest in ensuring the success of Timor-Leste as a new nation, as well as working together with our allies and friends, such as Australia, Portugal and Indonesia, who have undertaken leading roles in the development of Timor-Leste," said Chisholm.

The Pacific Partnership mission was made possible through the support of the government of Timor-Leste, partnerships with local medical care professionals, and by the support of a number of non-governmental organizations including Timor Red Cross, Australian Aid International, Bario Pite clinic, Caritas, Klibur Domin volunteers and Health Alliance International, among others. The San Diego-based ship supported a variety of medical, dental, veterinarian, educational and preventive medicine services.

USNS Mercy (T-AH 19) is uniquely capable of supporting medical and humanitarian assistance needs and can rapidly respond to a range of situations on short notice.

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