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Comfort Teams Wrap Up Work at Otto Martinez

Navy NewsStand

Story Number: NNS090504-13
Release Date: 5/4/2009 2:09:00 PM

By Airman 1st Class Benjamin Stratton

SANTO DOMINGO, Dominican Republic (NNS) -- Teams aboard hospital ship USNS Comfort (T-AH 20) saw their last patients at the Otto Martinez School, in the Dominican Republic, April 26, on their second stop during Continuing Promise 2009 (CP09).

"We've treated a lot of patients here the last few days," said Navy Capt. Jeff Cole, Otto Martinez site leader. "A lot of people have left very happy with the work we've provided. This medical care is much more than they usually get."

The site provided the local neighborhood with optometry, dental, pediatrics, medicine for adults, and dermatology.

CP09 combines U.S. military and interagency personnel, non-governmental organizations, civil-service mariners, academics from partnering nations (providing medical, dental, veterinary and engineering services afloat and ashore) alongside host-nation personnel.

"We've definitely made an improvement in their health care," Cole said. "The biggest improvements we've made are through the surgeries we've provided back on the ship."

Comfort has 250 patient-beds and more than 850 embarked personnel, employing four operating rooms, X-ray machines, CT-scan (Computerized Tomography), a pharmacy, dental suites, physical therapy and a variety of other related services.

However, these surgeries on board Comfort could not be possible without the efforts of the crews in the field.

"We've become a little bit more efficient," Cole said. "With lessons learned from past sites, we have constructed a better system. You can see this by the sheer number of patients we've seen in just a couple of days."

Comfort has helped more than 3,400 patients and 439 animals in the Dominican Republic. A total of more than 170 surgeries are scheduled to be performed during CP09 in the Dominican Republic.

Cole said the Dominicans are thankful for Comfort's services.

"They're most appreciative," Cole said. "I've seen a lot of smiles on a lot of faces. Overall, it has been a really great experience. I'm glad to have had the opportunity to be here with all my shipmates, non-governmental organization personnel and international partners. It is rewarding to be a part of the humanitarian efforts here."

Just as the U.S. agencies involved are important to the mission, the international partners play a key part in helping the Dominican people.

"This has been a good place; there are so many patients," said Lt. Carlos Perez, a general practitioner from Nicaragua who is serving with the CP 09 crew. "We are doing much good here. When you help people, you make a difference. CP09 has been a success because we are helping the people."

CP09 demonstrates U.S. Southern Command and 4th Fleet's commitment to Latin America and the Caribbean region. Comfort is scheduled to visit five other countries as part of CP09 to include Antigua and Barbuda, Colombia, El Salvador, Nicaragua and Panama.

For more news from USNS Comfort (T-AH 20), visit www.navy.mil/local/tah20/.