Pacific Partnership 2010 Departs Cambodia

By Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class (SW/AW) Brian Gaines, Pacific Partnership Public Affairs

June 28, 2010 - SIHANOUKVILLE, Cambodia (NNS) -- Pacific Partnership 2010 departed Cambodia June 28 after 12 days of working alongside the people of Cambodia to deliver a variety of humanitarian and civic assistance programs ashore and aboard USNS Mercy (T-AH 19).

"The time has flown by quickly and we should all take great pride in everything we have accomplished together in such a short time," said Pacific Partnership 2010 Mission Commander, Capt. Lisa M. Franchetti. "We have enjoyed a warm and friendly welcome from the Cambodian people, and will long remember the friendships we have made and the inspiring times we have shared during our visit."

Medical staff, Seabees, nongovernmental organizations, partner nations, and other U.S. government organization personnel not only provided their respective specialties in Sihanoukville, but extended these endeavors into distant regions such as Kampong Cham, Kampong Speu, Kampot, Kandal, Ratanakiri, and Takeo provinces.

In remote areas such as Ratanakiri, more than 300 miles away from Sihanoukville, medical personnel treated more than 700 patients per day for a variety of medical conditions including such diseases as cholera, chronic skin infections, respiratory infections, and malnutrition.

"The crew we had in these areas exceeded my expectations," said Lt. Cmdr. (Dr.) Sandy Kimmer, officer in charge for the remote medical civic action program (MEDCAP) sites her team visited. "The crew included NGO, partner nation, U.S. Public Health Service, and joint service personnel. Even some of the contracted interpreters were physicians, and that was a huge asset."

Because of the importance of delivering medical care to such a remote location, Cambodian media braved the rugged terrain to Ratanakiri, located near the borders of Vietnam and Laos, to document the work being done and to spread the word.

"Cambodian television, radio, and newspapers were beneficial in getting the word out," said Kimmer. "A group from the Cambodian Public Health Service was even on-hand to educate the local population about diseases such as malaria and bird flu through skits and other means."

MEDCAP sites were also located in Kampong Cham, Kampong Speu, Kampot, and Sihanouk provinces. In total, more than 29,000 patients received care at these sites.

Aboard Mercy, medical personnel treated 536 patients and performed 286 surgeries. Even a mother who brought her young son in for corrective urinary tract surgery benefited from an unexpected opportunity for cataract surgery.

"As the boy was being prepped for surgery, we noticed the mother feeling her way around the ship," said Australian Navy Lt. (Dr.) Elizabeth Livingstone, an ophthalmologist currently attached to Mercy. "So we decided surgery would benefit the mother and out of both eyes treated, her best eye now has 20/30 vision."

Various engineering civic action programs (ENCAP) throughout these regions provided a variety of projects including three water wells and two water towers, as well as various renovations to schools and children's centers. Seabees from Naval Mobile Construction Battalion 11 and Amphibious Construction Battalion 1, along with Australian Defense Force Army engineers from the 2nd Combat Engineering Regiment, and Royal Cambodian Armed Forces engineers provided about 22,000 man-hours to these projects. The final well-drilling project is expected to complete on July 6.

Community service (COMSERV) program volunteers completed 11 different engagements at children's schools and orphanages accounting for more than 1,700 total volunteer hours.

"One of the common statements I hear from our volunteers after completing a COMSERV project is how much fun they had at the event. The impact of these projects are felt by not only those we are visiting or helping, but also by the volunteers," said Lt. Derrick Horne, a chaplain aboard Mercy. "When you can get volunteers of all different backgrounds, experiences, and occupations to stand in a circle with 20 children at a local shelter and do the 'Hokie Pokie,' you know the rewards must be great!"

To coincide with the 60th anniversary of diplomatic relations between the U.S. and Cambodia, Mercy was instrumental in repatriating ancient Khmer artifacts to their ancestral homeland. Sihanoukville Governor Sbong Sarath, five Buddhist monks, and a crowd of approximately 60 people gathered on the pier to watch the return of the relics. The artifacts included several Buddhist sculptures from the Angkor period, which spanned from 802 until 1431 A.D.

"As a Cambodian, I was very happy to learn of the return of these artifacts. On behalf of the Cambodian people, I would like to thank the U.S. government for their commitment to the Cambodian people," said Cambodian Ministry of Culture Director Khim Sarith.

The Japan Maritime Self Defense Force ship JDS Kunisaki (LST 4003) and her embarked medical team and NGOs also joined Mercy during her visit to Cambodia and provided medical personnel and supported MEDCAPs at the Sihanouk Provincial Hospital and the Andaung Thma elementary school, where on average, more than 800 locals were treated daily during their 10-day participation.

This marks the first time Pacific Partnership has visited Cambodia.

Pacific Partnership 2010 is the fifth in a series of annual U.S. Pacific Fleet humanitarian and civic assistance endeavors aimed at strengthening regional partnerships among U.S. government organizations, partner nations, and international humanitarian and relief organizations.