Comfort Begins Medical Services in Grenada

Photo By Cpl. Jacob Perdue | From the left, U.S. Navy Capt. Brian Diebold, commander, Task Force 49; Prime Minister of Grenada Keith Mitchell; Dr. Lawrence Albert Joseph, acting governor-general of Grenada; U.S. Ambassador to Barbados and the Eastern Caribbean Linda Taglialatela; and Capt. Patrick Amersbach, commanding officer, Military Treatment Facility aboard the hospital ship USNS Comfort (T-AH 20); cut a ribbon to mark the start of a five-day medical mission in St. George’s, Grenada, Sept. 15, 2019. Comfort is working with health and government partners in Central America, South America and the Caribbean to provide care on the ship and at land-based medical sites, helping to relieve pressure on national healthcare systems, including those strained by an increase in cross-border migrants. (U.S. Army photo by Spc. Jacob Gleich)  

GRENADA

09.15.2019

Story by Petty Officer 2nd Class Bobby Siens 

U.S. Naval Forces Southern Command / U.S. 4th Fleet

ST. GEORGE’S, Grenada – Senior leadership from the hospital ship USNS Comfort (T-AH 20) alongside partner and host nation representatives attended an opening ceremony to mark the beginning of the ship’s seventh medical mission stop in St. George’s, Grenada, Sept. 15.

While in St. George’s, U.S. service members and medical professionals will work alongside partner and host nations to provide medical assistance in communities with urgent health care needs and demonstrate the commitment to strengthen regional medical capacity.

“It is truly a pleasure and honor to be here to welcome the United States ship Comfort to Grenada,” said Linda Taglialatela, U.S. ambassador to Barbados and the Eastern Caribbean. “Here after six stops in South and Central America and the Caribbean, the ships presence in Grenada reflects the strength of our bilateral relationship and our commitment to Grenada and the region.”

Comfort’s team consists of more than 900 personnel, including medical specialists from the military, non-governmental organization volunteers and personnel from partner nations.

“I believe this a very significant event here today, because this is a symbol of the strong relationship between the United States and Grenada,” said Keith Mitchell, prime minister of Grenada. “Healthcare touches every single human being, and anything that is done to improve healthcare to citizens of any country has lasting impact. The impact of this initiative is clearly something all Grenadians will feel for a long time.”

This marks the first Comfort visit to Grenada and the seventh to the region since 2007. The embarked medical teams will provide care aboard Comfort and at two land-based medical sites.

This mission stop is part of the U.S. Southern Command’s Enduring Promise initiative and reflects the United States’ ongoing commitment to friendship, partnership, and solidarity with partner nations in the Caribbean, Central America and South America.

For more information, visit www.facebook.com/NAVSOUS4THFLT, www.dvidshub.net/feature/comfort2019, and www.navy.mil.

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• Date Taken: 09.15.2019
• Date Posted: 09.16.2019 10:00
• Story ID: 341081
• Location: GD