Media Release
U.S. Navy Medical Personnel Treat Over 2,000 in Yap
September 12, 2008
During the week of August 25-29, a visiting team of 26 military professionals from the United States Naval Hospital Ship USNS Mercy treated 2,288 patients in Yap. This number represents over twenty percent of the main island’s total population. These patients received primary medical care, optometry, dental, pharmacy and physical therapy services. Mercy dental professionals performed 357 tooth extractions and other dental procedures. Mercy optical professionals treated 804 patients and distributed 738 pairs of prescription reading glasses and 212 pair of sunglasses. Mercy pharmacists saw 1,233 patients and filled 3,425 prescriptions. Patients who were screened and found to be in need of more serious health treatment, such as medical, surgical or orthodontic procedures, were referred to the Yap Department of Health Services for treatment.
In addition to the delivery of health care services, two medical technicians from the Mercy team repaired $204,500 worth of non-functioning biomedical equipment at Yap State hospital. They inspected 15 machines and successfully repaired 11 of these, including one anesthesia machine, two electrosurgical units, an ICU ventilator, two defibrillators, an EKG machine, a medical x-ray machine, two dental x-ray machines, an oxygen supply monitor, and an oxygen volume monitor. They diagnosed malfunctions and recommended parts to be ordered to fix another defibrillator and a laparoscope. The two technicians also provided 42 hours of on-the-job maintenance training to Yap Hospital staff and maintenance personnel who work with these lifesaving machines.
Officials from the Yap State Government, working under a special Task Force Committee, along with the Traditional Councils of Chiefs (Pilung and Tamol) as well as volunteers from other Government Agencies, helped plan and execute the week’s activities. Also instrumental in the success of the Mercy community outreach clinics were the Public Service Transportation (PTS), staff from the Sports Council, and translators from various departments and offices including the Governor’s Office, Office of the Attorney General, Department of Resources and Development, the Department of Health Services and the Department of Youth and Civic Affairs. Communities from the Municipalities of Maap, Gagil, Tomil, Ruul, and Gilman also played a significant role in other logistics arrangements that contributed greatly to the mission’s success. At each location, Mercy military personnel worked side by side in close partnership with their Yapese counterparts. In recognition of the importance of the mission, the Yap State Legislature passed a resolution expressing the “deep and heartfelt appreciation of the Government and the people of Yap State to the United States Government, the nations of the Pacific Partnership 2008, and the health professionals from the United States Navy Ship Mercy”.