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| USNS Mercy (T-AH 19) during a previous Pacific Partnership mission (File Photo) |
By Carol Wallace, Public Affairs Specialist, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Pacific Partnership Volunteer
SAVUSAVU, Fiji - Representatives of Latter-day Saints Charities, Humanitarian Services of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, USNS Mercy (T-AH 19) and the Republic of Fiji worked together this week to deliver medical supplies to five local hospitals during Pacific Partnership 2015.
The hospital ship Mercy is one of two hospital ships participating in a five month humanitarian service mission in the South Pacific as part of PP15. The other ship is the Joint High Speed Vessel USNS Millinocket (JHSV 3), which is currently in Kiribati.
The USNS Mercy naval hospital ship docked at King’s Wharf in Suva on Sunday June 7. Soon after, the Ministry of Health in Fiji received the donation and provided transport for the medical supplies to various local hospitals.
Mike Hughes, a Latter-day Saint volunteer from San Diego, California, presented the donation to representatives of LDS Charities in Fiji. This organization worked with the Ministry of Health to ensure delivery of the medical supplies to the hospitals that had been recommended by the host nation.
The first pallet of supplies was delivered to Major Amelia Tadu and the medical team of the George Mate Medical Centre of the Republic of Fiji Military Forces at the Queen Elizabeth Barracks in Delainabua.
“We are so grateful for this donation,” Major Tadu said. “Thank you for thinking of us.”
To show their appreciation, the RFMF officers treated the Mercy medical team and the Latter-day Saint volunteers to a luncheon at the Officers’ Mess.
Another pallet of medical supplies was delivered to the Colonial War Memorial Hospital. The supplies were gratefully received by the general manager of the hospital.
Three other pallets of medical supplies were delivered to the government pharmacist who will distribute them to the Lautoka and Labasa hospitals.
More medical supplies will be transported by the Mercy to Savusavu and distributed to local hospitals there and in nearby Seqaqa and Dreketi.
Representatives of LDS Charities and Humanitarian Services of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints work with governments, other churches and charities around the world to respond to disasters, alleviate suffering and help strengthen individuals, families and communities in other ways. LDS is based out of Salt Lake City, Utah.