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Seafarers-crewed hospital ship returns (6/7)

The U.S. Military Sealift Command has issued the following news release concerning the hospital ship USNS Mercy, which is crewed by members of the SIU Government Services Division. The release appears below and also is available on MSC’s web site here Mercy returns home from tsunami and earthquake relief efforts SAN DIEGO - The U.S. Navy's Military Sealift Command hospital ship USNS Mercy will return home to Naval Base San Diego Wednesday, June 8, following a five-month tsunami relief and humanitarian assistance mission in Southeast Asia and the Pacific Islands. During the ship's deployment, Mercy's on board Medical Treatment Facility personnel treated more than 100,000 patients and performed 466 surgeries. In addition, Mercy's medical teams distributed 4,041 eyeglasses, performed 6,000 dental procedures and provided preventative and public health training that will benefit residents of the region for years to come. Civil service mariners aboard Mercy also contributed to humanitarian relief efforts, repairing infrastructure and medical equipment in hospitals, clinics and other public buildings. "A major focus of our effort throughout the region was to work together with host-nation medical providers in the spirit of cooperation, promoting the exchange of ideas among people from all countries to further their capabilities for the future," said Capt. Mark Llewellyn, MC, Commanding Officer of Mercy's Medical Treatment Facility. Mercy deployed from San Diego Jan. 5 in support of Operation Unified Assistance, the United States' response to the Dec. 26 tsunami that struck Southeast Asia. The ship first sailed to the region's most devastated area, Banda Aceh, Indonesia. From Feb. 6 to March 16, the ship's combined U.S. Navy and non-governmental organization Project HOPE medical staff treated more than 9,500 patients ashore and afloat, and performed 19,512 medical procedures, including 285 surgical and operating room cases. After completing operations off the coast of Banda Aceh, Mercy began its sail home to the United States, stopping at several ports along the way to provide humanitarian assistance and demonstrate the U.S. government's commitment to the region. In Alor, Indonesia, and Dili, East Timor, Mercy's medical teams treated over 8,000 patients in six days. When an 8.7 magnitude earthquake struck Nias Island, Indonesia, March 28, Mercy sailed to assist. From April 5 - 29, Mercy's medical teams treated earthquake victims and other residents of the island, performing 123 surgeries and more than 19,000 medical procedures. Following the ship's operations in Nias, Mercy conducted a final humanitarian mission in Madang, Papua New Guinea, before heading home to San Diego. While in Papua New Guinea, Mercy's medical staff treated more than 22,700 patients and performed 36 surgeries, providing aid to Manam islanders who had been forced to flee their homes after a major volcanic eruption in October. When Mercy sails into San Diego, the ship and its crew will have traveled 36,000 nautical miles in their mission to deliver aid to Southeast Asia. ###