US Navy hospital ship arrives in Ctg port July 1

During its eight-day stay the floating hospital under the command of the US Pacific Fleet would carry out its programme in collaboration with Bangladesh Navy and Chittagong Medical College and Hospital (CMCH).

Selection and registration of patients intended to receive treatment from the hospital started at CMCH Paediatric Surgery Department yesterday to continue till tomorrow, said Prof Dr Tahmina Banu who is the chief coordinator of the mission in Bangladesh.

The service that the USNS Mercy in its mission 'Operation Smile' would provide includes general, paediatric and ophthalmology surgery, basic medical evaluation and treatment, preventative medicine treatment, dental screenings and treatment, cleft lift and cleft plate surgeries, optometry screenings and public health training.

The hospital ship with around 150 medical and technical crew and staffs on board left Singapore for Bangladesh on Monday.

The floating hospital as part of its five-month humanitarian assistance programme in Indonesia, Philippines, Bangladesh and East Timor started its journey on April 24, said Commander Pamela Kunze, the deputy public affairs officer of US Pacific Fleet.