BY MIKE TUA
THE 50 lifesaving surgeries on–board the world’s largest hospital ship USNS Mercy (T-AH 19) will be recorded in the history of the Solomon Islands, and in the heart of the locals who have experienced the life-changing surgeries provided by the team of medical specialists under the U.S.-led Pacific Partnership Mission 2022.
Pacific Partnership 2022, Directorate of Surgical Services, Chief Hospital Corpsman, and Senior Enlisted Leader, Dane Adams confirmed to Sunday Isles that they have achieved the primary medical objectives of the Pacific Partnership mission in the country.
He said they are grateful to perform 50 surgeries on–board the U.S. Navy hospital ship Mercy in the last two weeks in the Solomon Islands.
“Our objectives for the hospital ship were to come in and not only to take care of patients in the ship but also to go out to the local hospitals and work with the providers and nurses out in the town and share knowledge with them both learning from them and receiving knowledge from them.
“We saw about 50 patients for surgery on the ship and those patients were so grateful that we are here to restore their health.
“And not only that but we were able to go out and work side-by-side with the other local doctors and nurses and have them on board the ship and show them our space and that was just so formidable,” Dane Adams said.
When asked about what are two major things he developed out from the Pacific Partnership mission here, Adams said: “The two of the most things that I will remember forever are one – Being here in Guadalcanal and right in Honiara and the history in this area is unbelievable, we just sitting here on this ship just of the coast and it’s so important to our history being a navy and being with the Marines.
“And the second one is just that how well we were received by the local community was so formidable. I made some really good friends with some locals and life-long friendships were built over the last two weeks so it’s great,” he said.
He later thanked the people of the Solomon Islands for welcoming and allowing them to carry out their mission objective with a sense of togetherness.
“Thank you for allowing us to be here; it’s been a great way to close out this Pacific Partnership 2022; and without this stop, I don’t feel that we would’ve felt that it was a complete mission; so thank you so much for allowing us to come down over here and opening your arms to us,” Adams said with a smile.
Earlier this month, a joint operation comprising the medical team from Sea Mercy and National Referral Hospital (NRH) was deployed to Malaita and Western province where they also conducted surgeries and dermatology, including reproductive health screening and treatment.
