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Continuing Promise 2010 Brings Humanitarian Civic Assistance to Colombia

Navy NewsStand

Story Number: NNS100816-19
8/16/2010

By Lt. Jacqui L. Barker, Continuing Promise 2010 Public Affairs

COVENAS, Colombia (NNS) -- Military and civilian doctors and nurses began providing health care to people in Covenas, Colombia, Aug. 10, as part of the Continuing Promise 2010.

The mission, based aboard USS Iwo Jima (LHD 7), provides humanitarian civic assistance to the U.S. Southern Command area of responsibility, specifically in the host nations of Colombia, Costa Rica, Guatemala, Guyana, Haiti, Nicaragua, Panama and Suriname.

Continuing Promise 2010 personnel established three medical sites near the Covenas area. On the first day, 52 people at Covenas Medical Site 1 were identified for transport to Iwo Jima for various medical procedures.

"In the last four days, we have treated 2,700 people at Medical Site 1 and conducted 18 surgeries in the first two days alone," said Capt. William Tanner, Joint Medical Group, commander, Continuing Promise 2010. "After these first few days in Colombia, surveys tell us that 98 percent of respondents have a favorable view of the United States, so I think our efforts are paying off. We are bringing quality health care to our partner nations in Central and Southern America, and we are gaining trust and establishing mutual respect among these nations."

One hundred percent of all Colombians who arrived at Medical Site 2 were seen and given care by physicians.

In addition to providing healthcare, the Continuing Promise 2010 Joint Task Force 48, on board USS Iwo Jima, is also building or repairing infrastructure in local communities, meeting with local officials and really taking the time to get to know the people of the Colombian coast.

"It's been wonderful here in Colombia, and we look forward to continuing our relationships and partnerships with all the nations of the Caribbean and Central and South America," said Capt. Thomas Negus, Continuing Promise 2010, commodore. "This mission builds on and encourages the establishment of new partnerships between and among nations, non-government organizations (NGOs) and international organizations. It's very important to recognize the NGO's contribution to this mission because NGOs provide continuous assistance to our partner nations."

By the end of the mission in Colombia, the Partnership of the Americas will have treated more than 7,000 patients in the three clinics of Covenas, Islotes and Don Gabriel, and have provided more than 13,000 medical prescriptions. Optometrists are expected to complete 1,200 eye exams, and it is projected that at least 50 surgeries will be conducted on board Iwo Jima.

Halfway through, technicians have already repaired 50 pieces of biomedical equipment in local hospitals. Veterinarian treatments will approach 1,000 animals, 16 pallets of teddy bears and back packs donated by NGOs will be distributed and the Seabees will have changed communities and enhanced local schools in Don Gabriel and Salitral.

NGOs, like the RN Response Network, provide nursing care to countries throughout the world. The Continuing Promise 2010 mission is the RN Response Network's 12th humanitarian visit. RN Response Network, an association with 155,000 members, is the largest professional association of registered nurses. This NGO provided acute care assistance in Haiti in January 2010 and returned to Haiti with the Partnership of the America's mission.