US hospital ship arriving on humanitarian mission
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MANILA, Philippines—The US Naval Ship Mercy, the United States Navy’s premier hospital ship, will arrive in Subic next week to participate in a humanitarian mission in the Pacific, the US Embassy in Manila said.
In a statement, the embassy on Friday said the USNS Mercy was scheduled to dock at the Alava Wharf in Subic at 3 p.m. on Monday.
“The USNS Mercy [will be] in the Philippines for Pacific Partnership 2012 (PP12), an annual US Pacific Fleet humanitarian and civic assistance mission,” the embassy said.
Now on its seventh year, the Pacific Partnership brings together US military personnel, host and partner nations, nongovernment organizations and international agencies to build stronger relationships and develop disaster response capabilities throughout the Asia-Pacific region, it added.
The USNS Mercy, which bears the Red Cross symbol, will provide medical, veterinary and dental services to hundreds of FIlipino residents. It is also expected to work together with the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP).
“USNS Mercy is capable of rapid and mobile acute medical and surgical procedures with a total of 1,000 beds and can accommodate 200 patients per day. It is highly equipped in giving medical and surgical specialties along with basic medical services …” the AFP said in a statement earlier.
