USNS Mercy Ship surgery helps 200 Samarnons

By AVHA H. EBALDE, PIA Samar
June 28, 2012

CATBALOGAN CITY  –  The United State Navy Ship (USNS) Mercy has already reached the number of two hundred operated patients since day one of accepting 40 patients per day inside the USNS Mercy Ship.

The USNS Mercy Ship has 12 surgery rooms, four x-ray equipments, a physical therapy center, CT Scan Unit, Pharmacy, Dental Suite, Angiography Suite, Optometry and Lens laboratory, Two oxygen-producing plants and a blood bank with 5,000 units of blood.

It is a floating hospital with services like surgery, primary health care clinics, preventive medicine, and biomedical equipment repair.

“This is a challenging and unique mission that requires an advanced level of seamanship, dedication and sensitivity,” said Captain Jonathan Olmsted.

Corita Sobido, 46 years old with three kids from Samar, one of the myoma patients said “Napakaswerte ko na magkaroon ng ganitong prebilehiyo at makapunta dito at makapag paopera ng walang anumang bayarin o gastos pati sa medisina.” (I was very lucky to have the privilege to come here undergo surgery without any expense on operation and medicine.)

She added that it has been a year since she was diagnosed with a myoma but cannot afford the P60,000 worth of operation, she just seemed helpless as the myoma grew in size.

“I am really happy and very thankful to our government, to the Pacific Partnership, and to all the USNS Mercy doctors and nurses for their kind treatment during my stay here,” Sobido added.

Patients on surgery needs to stay overnight before their operation for the health check and after the surgery, the patients will stay for one day until recovery depending on what type of operation they will go through.

The USNS Mercy surgery has already delivered their services to the patients with cataract, myoma, and infected leg.