With more than 4,000 services provided in different medical specialties, the USNS Comfort Hospital Ship of the United States Navy completed its one-week mission in Riohacha, in the department of La Guajira.
After five days of assistance provided at the Divina Pastora school and the Liceo Almirante Padilla school in Riohacha, in the department of La Guajira, the hospital ship USNS Comfort, in the framework of the Mission Promesa Duradera 2018, managed to attend 4,807 people from different regions of the department in specialties such as: general medicine, pediatrics, optometry, ophthalmology, dentistry, among others.
In addition, during the mission, 116 people were transferred to the Comfort Ship for procedures in general surgeries, pediatrics, orthopedics, urology, ophthalmology and maxillofacial surgery.
It should be noted that it was possible to serve 612 Venezuelan citizens who came to the two points of assistance, including children, adults and seniors.
"The arrival of the doctors in the Buque Comfort was excellent for the indigenous Wayúu people of La Guajira, thank you very much, may God bless each one of those people who participated in this and I hope you come back. Thanks to all the soldiers of Colombia for the well-being that they have given us,” said the indigenous Wayúu, Anastasia Gacía Epiayu.
In the same way, during the ceremonial events of the closing of the mission, General Alberto José Mejía Ferrero, commander of the Colombian Military Forces, said: "I want to tell you that on two recent occasions we have been here in La Guajira, observing and receiving the so special help from our ally, the Government of the United States. We recently received the help of the famous “Seabees” of the United States Navy, where nearly a thousand people could benefit from fresh water, and now the magnificent mission of this Hospital Ship for the entire community. On behalf of our Government and on behalf of the Military Forces of Colombia, I would like to thank the Embassy and the Southern Command for making this humanitarian operation possible, which at the same time, with our humble help, helps us get closer and closer to the community. "
In the same way, 3,000 units of lenses, 1,500 sunglasses, 8 wheelchairs, 23 canes and 35 walkers were distributed.
Source: Comprehensive Action and Development Command - CAAID
