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Project Hope Delivers on Continuing Promise

Navy NewsStand

Story Number: NNS081119-05
Release Date: 11/19/2008 5:18:00 AM

By Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class Emmitt J. Hawks, Continuing Promise 2008 Public Affairs

GEORGETOWN, Guyana (NNS) -- Project Hope, with the assistance of USS Kearsarge (LHD 3), delivered seven pallets of medical supplies to Guyanese Ministry of Health officials during a ceremony Nov. 17 as part of the humanitarian/civic assistance (HCA) mission Continuing Promise (CP) 2008.

Project Hope has offered a helping hand to countries around the world for 50 years. Currently the organization is improving health and increasing knowledge in the areas of infectious disease (HIV/AIDS, TB), women's and children's health, health professional education, health systems and facilities, health policy and humanitarian assistance.

"We are happy about what is happening in Georgetown," said Christopher Truss, Project Hope medical director. "We are pleased with the accomplishments of CP in partnership with the government of Guyana, U.S. Navy and supporting nongovernment organizations (NGOs)."

Project Hope also gave a monetary donation of $275,000 to the Ministry of Health (MOH) and $220,000 to other outreach programs. The assistance will help further efforts to provide health care and education programs in remote regions.

"We thank you for this valuable contribution," said MOH official Bheri Ramsaran. "This partnership has become like family, and the gifts have not stopped at medical supplies and monetary donations. Project Hope has brought with them a medical team who are addressing prostate issues in the community."

Both Truss and Ramsaran agreed the continued partnership between Project Hope and Guyana will lead to advancements of medical care and health education for many Guyanese citizens in Georgetown.

"We are going to build upon the extraordinary work of the U.S. Navy, Project Hope and NGOs," said Ramsaran.

Kearsarge's CP mission is to conduct civil-military operations including humanitarian and civic assistance as well as veterinary, medical, dental and civil engineering support to six partner nations and to send a strong message of U.S. compassion, support and commitment to Central and South America and the Caribbean.

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

The CP Caribbean Phase is the second of two HCA deployments to the Southern Command area of focus for 2008. The first CP deployment was conducted by USS Boxer (LHD 4) in the Pacific.

For more news from USS Kearsarge, visit www.navy.mil/local/lhd3.