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Iwo Jima Medical Department Supports Continuing Promise 2010

Navy NewsStand

Story Number: NNS100802-04
8/2/2010

By Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Zane Ecklund, USS Iwo Jima Public Affairs

USS IWO JIMA, At Sea (NNS) -- USS Iwo Jima (LHD 7) is providing surgical assistance to the people of Haiti during the ship's first stop in support of Continuing Promise 2010.

Iwo Jima's medical staff has swelled from 25 personnel to 180 as medical technicians from the Army, Air Force, foreign services, and civilians from nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) have embarked for the mission.

"I have been looking forward to this mission ever since I found out Fleet Surgical Team 2 has been assigned to assist," said Lt. Cmdr. Tara Wilson, a general surgeon with Fleet Surgical Team 2 and director of Surgical Services for Continuing Promise 2010. "I am using the skills that I have acquired over the last six years of my Navy career to help others. It feels amazing to have a life changing impact on someone just by fixing their hernia."

Eligible patients for medical assistance were selected at surgical screening sites within the first two days the ship's company and embarked personnel were in country. The majority of the patients were from the town of Port au Paix.

The goal is to provide surgical procedures which require no further care such as hernia operations, scar revisions, and various eye procedures including cataract removal and the correction of dysfunctional eye muscles.

"If [Haitian patients] have a diagnosis of a condition that we can fix then they become eligible to have a procedure performed," said Wilson. "If they have a diagnosis of a condition that is beyond the scope of our capabilities, we will make a referral to a local hospital."

Patients in need of medical care receive it at no cost. Many have had a surgical diagnosis for a long period of time, but have not been able to cover the expense to correct it.

Jean Steve, a Haitian who was the recipient of a corrective procedure was grateful not only for his surgery, but for all the aid Haiti has received from Iwo Jima.

"The ship brought a lot of help for the Haitian people," said Steve. "All people on the boat are welcome to Haiti."

The goal of medical personnel on board Iwo Jima is to complete 30 general surgeries and eye procedures before the ship departs. In addition to medical staff, Iwo Jima has engineering, dental, and veterinary specialists embarked to provide host nations with a greater understanding of health care and technology.