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Medical Support Efforts Wrap Up in Tuapi, Nicaragua

Navy NewsStand

Story Number: NNS080819-13
Release Date: 8/19/2008 4:21:00 PM

By Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Gina Wollman, Continuing Promise Public Affairs

TUAPI, NICARAGUA (NNS) -- Joint military and interagency medical personnel currently embarked aboard USS Kearsarge (LHD 3) for Continuing Promise 2008 provided care to more than 1,000 local residents at the three-day clinic in Tuapi, Aug. 12-15.

Locals an opportunity to receive dental care, eye exams and basic medical screenings. Animal vaccinations were also offered for the four legged members of the community.

"The past couple days have gone very well," said Lt. Fe Lobo-Menendez, a clinical lab officer from the U.S. Air Force, volunteering as a medical linguist for the Continuing Promise mission. "All together we saw more than 1,000 people from the community, and they have shown us a lot of appreciation for being here."

Mission Commander, Continuing Promise (CP) 2008 Capt. Fernandez "Frank" Ponds, visited with locals on the last day of the clinic to thank them for their hospitality and wish them a bright future as medical operations came to a close.

Before departing, Ponds helped distribute high-nutrition meals from Project Handclasp, a Navy program that regularly teams with ships to transport donated goods to people around the world.

CP is a collaborative effort between the United States and partner militaries, non-governmental organizations and partner-nation support organizations to build strong partnerships that can be called upon in the event of a regional situation requiring cooperative solutions.

Kearsarge's mission in Nicaragua exemplifies the United States' maritime strategy which emphasizes deploying forces to build confidence and trust among nations through collective maritime security efforts that focus on common threats and mutual interest.

When Kearsarge departs from Nicaragua they will move forward with the Continuing Promise mission to Panama, Colombia, Dominican Republic, Trinidad and Tobago and Guyana.

Kearsarge is currently under the operational control of U.S. 4th Fleet. The mission of the U.S. 4th Fleet is to direct United States naval forces operating in the Caribbean, and Central and South American region and interact with partner nation navies to shape maritime environment.

The Continuing Promise Caribbean Phase is the second of two humanitarian and civil assistance deployments to the Southern Command area of focus for 2008. The first Continuing Promise deployment was conducted by USS Boxer (LHD 4) in the Pacific.

For more news from Commander, U.S. Naval Forces Southern Command visit www.navy.mil/local/cusns/.