20 volunteer dentists, doctors, nurses, veterinarians, engineers and other specialists from The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints will join others to board the USNS Mercy hospital ship next month before heading to Fiji and Papua New Guinea to provide free services to local communities.
The USNS Mercy is one of two US Navy ships preparing to deploy from US ports beginning a five month humanitarian service project in the South Pacific called “Pacific Partnership 2015.”
USNS Mercy will deploy San Diego, California 17 May, arriving 6 June in Fiji. The medical team will stay busy treating patients until 19 June after which they will sail to Papua New Guinea for a two week visit (27 June -10 July).
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USNS Millinocket is scheduled to deploy Pearl Harbour, Hawaii 27 May arriving in Kiribati on 2 June where a volunteer team of medical professionals will provide patient care and treatment for two weeks. The ship is also scheduled to be in the Solomon Islands from 10-17 July.
For several years Latter-day Saint Charities has participated with the US Navy in humanitarian projects. Every two years the US Navy sends volunteers including physicians, surgeons, nurses, dentists, dental assistants and hygienists to countries throughout the world providing medical care for people in need.
In many cases, Latter-day Saint missionaries and other members of the Church interpret for locals and the visiting specialists as medical and dental care is provided. In 2013 Mormon missionaries in Samoa provided interpretation services at medical and dental clinics.
US Navy medical ships travel the world to provide humanitarian and other support to communities in need.
Watch videos about the work of US Navy personnel and volunteers on medical ships, and Latter-day Saint humanitarian efforts: