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Liberia: U.S. Navy Ship Here for Humanitarian Services
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The Inquirer (Monrovia)
18 March 2008
Posted to the web 18 March 2008
Morrison O.G. Sayon
The U.S. Navy High Speed Vessel (HSV 2) Swift has arrived in the country and would be operating at the Free Port of Monrovia for the next two weeks.
The vessel that would be off the coast nearby is expected to support a variety of activities designed to benefit the people of Liberia.
The ship brings a group of 20 civilians and military medical professionals to Liberia to provide training to civilian health professionals at the John F. Kennedy Medical Hospital and the Redemption Hospital on the Bushrod island.
The vessels' crew is also expected to train members of the Armed Forces of Liberia (AFL) medical professionals at the Edward B. Kessely Military Barracks.
The group will also provide free medical services at various locations working alongside their Liberian counterparts. The civilian professionals are volunteers with Project Hope (Health Opportunities for People Everywhere), an international health education and humanitarian assistance organization. The U.S. Military medical professionals include an environmental and preventive medical team, a dental care team, and a veterinary care team.
The U.S. Navy Ship has also brought in a variety of medicines, medical equipment and medical supplies that will be presented to the Ministry of Health and other local health organizations in the country. A US$2 million Project Hope health items donation was offloaded yesterday at the Freeport of Monrovia to be followed by a US$50,000 donation of hospital equipment in the coming week on behalf of the people of the United States.
The U.S. Navy Ship, Swift commanded by Commander Charles Rock, is a 98 meter high speed catamaran which was delivered to the U.S. Navy in August 2003 and has operated in support of many different missions, including a platform for Navy and Marine Corps experimental and high speed lift during humanitarian assistance and disaster relief operations.
Speaking to reporters upon the arrival of the U.S. Navy ship on the coast of Liberia, one of the medical Doctors on board, Dr. Michael Polifka disclosed that while in and out of Monrovia over the next two weeks, the U.S. Navy will be operating as part of a temporary sea based command off coast.
He said additional ships will transfer to Swift-at sea the vehicles and personnel required to transport many of the donated items that Swift brings to Liberia. "This will provide an opportunity for the ships involved to practice the sea basic concept, which can prove extremely beneficial during humanitarian or natural disasters where infrastructures are reduced or damaged," Dr. Polifka noted.
The African Partnership Station, a multi-national effort with a combined staff representing natives of ten European, African and North American countries brings the latest training and techniques to maritime professionals in ten West African Countries to address common threats of illegal fishing, smuggling, and human trafficking.
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The American navy vessel has visited several West African Countries including Senegal, Ghana, Cameroon, Gabon, Sao Tome & Principe, and now Liberia to conduct training, complete humanitarian projects and build partnership among participating nationals.
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