• Military Menu                       

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

• WMD
• Intelligence
• Homeland Security
• Space

Nicaragua Celebrates USNS Comfort's Visit

Navy NewsStand

Story Number: NNS090710-09
Release Date: 7/10/2009 5:22:00 AM

By Chief Mass Communication Specialist Teresa J. Frith

CORINTO, Nicaragua (NNS) -- Distinguished guests and crew members aboard hospital ship USNS Comfort (T-AH 20) celebrated the ship's second visit to Nicaragua with a special ceremony July 8.

Comfort is in Nicaragua as part of Continuing Promise 2009 (CP09), a four-month humanitarian and civic assistance mission to Latin America and the Caribbean region.

"It is a pleasure to welcome the Comfort and its crew on their second visit to Nicaragua," said U.S. Ambassador Robert J. Callahan. "We are grateful to [Nicaraguan] President [Daniel] Ortega and the National Assembly for granting permits for this humanitarian mission to take place in Nicaragua."

Callahan, along with Jaime Morales Carazo, vice president of Nicaragua; Rear Adm. Victor Guillory, Commander, U.S. 4th Fleet and other government and local officials arrived aboard Comfort for the celebration.

"President Ortega has asked me to give his personal thanks to the Comfort for their visit," said Carazo.

He added that he remembered when Comfort had visited Nicaragua in 2007 and when the original hospital ship, SS Hope, visited in 1961.

"This humanitarian mission and these gifts are a tangible manifestation of the goodwill of the American people for the people of Nicaragua," said Callahan.

Guests were treated to the U.S. Air Forces Southern band playing the national anthems of both the United States and Nicaragua, followed by a reception and gift exchange. After the welcoming reception, the guests were all given a tour of Comfort's facilities.

During CP09 Comfort is equipped with 250 patient beds, five operating rooms, X-ray machines, a CAT scan, pharmacy, dental suites, physical therapy and a number of other services. More than 900 crew members made up of U.S. military and interagency personnel, non-governmental organizations, academia, civil service mariners and partner nations provided medical, dental, veterinarian and engineering services.

"I believe that this visit and mission is a win for the Nicaraguan people," said Callahan. "It is yet another tangible sign of the ongoing U.S. commitment to the people of Nicaragua and of our respect and friendship."

Comfort has also visited Haiti, Dominican Republic, Antigua and Barbuda, Colombia, Panama and El Salvador.

Comfort is in Nicaragua until July 14.

For more news from Continuing Promise, visit www.navy.mil/local/cp/.