The NEWS (Monrovia)
Jimmey C. Fahngon
18 March 2008
Monrovia — The United States Navy High Speed Vessel (HSV2) Swift yesterday arrived in Liberia on a two-week mission.
According to a statement from the U.S. Embassy in Liberia, the navy vessel would be operating off the coast nearby in support of a variety of activities designed to benefit the people of Liberia.
Dr. Michael Polifika of Project Health Opportunities for People Everywhere (HOPE) told reporters that on board the vessel were 20 civilian and military medical professionals.
Project HOPE is an international health education and humanitarian assistance organization.
He said these people would provide training to civilian health professionals at the John F. Kennedy and the Redemption Hospitals as well as the Armed Forces of Liberia medial professionals at the Edward Beyan Kesselly (EBK) Barracks.
Dr. Polifika also added that the team of the U.S. Navy medical professionals would also provide free medical care at various locations working alongside their Liberian counterparts.
The U.S. Embassy said the vessel brought variety of medicines, medical equipment and medical supplies that would be presented to the Ministry of Health and other local organizations.
According to the statement, US$2 million Project HOPE health items donation would be off-loaded and followed by a US$50,000 donation of hospital equipment in the coming week on behalf of the people of the United States.
Swift, a 98 meter high speed catamaran, the statement said, which was delivered to the U.S. Navy in August 2003, has operated in support of many different missions including as a platform for Navy and Marine Corps experimentation and high speed lift during humanitarian assistance and disaster relief operations.
While in and out of Monrovia over the next two weeks, Swift would be operating as part of a temporary sea based command off the coast.
Swift is in the region taking part in Africa Partnership Station (APS), a United States effort to support regional maritime security and safety in the Gulf of Guinea, while increasing African maritime capabilities and capacity.
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