Pacific Partnership 2018 successfully concludes in Khanh Hoa

• Three Indian Naval Ships to visit Vietnam
• Three Royal Australian Navy Warships pay a goodwill visit to Vietnam

The US Navy’s hospital ship USNS Mercy. (Photo: VNA)

It was the 13th Pacific Partnership and the second time the programme has come to Khanh Hoa, following the first in 2008. 

The annual multilateral humanitarian assistance and disaster relief preparedness mission conducted in the Pacific and Indian Ocean this year consists of more than 800 personnel from the US and partner nations, including the UK, Canada, France, Australia, Sri Lanka, Chile and Peru. The program aims to enhance national capacities and medical readiness and preparedness for disasters like earthquake, tsunami, and volcanic eruption.

During the Vietnam mission, the PP18 constructed, upgraded and repaired many classrooms, commune-based hospital rooms in Ninh Hoa town and Dien Lam and Dien Khanh districts. Training and experience sharing in disaster prevention and response were provided for hundreds of local people in the provincial capital of Nha Trang and Cam Lam district. Over 110 beach lifeguards working in beaches across Nha Trang were also offered training on drowning rescue and prevention.

In addition, the medical team of the ship USNS Mercy held training for nearly 1,100 local medical workers and worked alongside local hospitals to give medical checkups and treatment to hundreds people. Thanks to the programme, more than 190 people received free surgeries, including 78 knee and hip replacement surgeries.

Commissioned in 1986, the USNS Mercy is called “super hospital” of the US Navy. It is 272m long, 32m wide and equipped with 12 operation rooms, 100 beds and modern medical equipment to conduct complicated surgeries on board. The vessel provides not only medical care for US armed forces but also comprehensive health services for the US’s global humanitarian and disaster relief mission.