Pacific Partnership 2010 Seabees Repair Indonesian Hospital

By Lt. j.g. Nelson Balido, Pacific Partnership 2010 Public Affairs

TOBELO, Indonesia (NNS) -- U.S. Navy Seabees completed renovations of a World War II-era Daruba hospital on the island of Morotai in Tobelo, Indonesia, with a ribbon-cutting ceremony July 15, as part of the Pacific Partnership 2010 (PP10) engineering civic action program (ENCAP).

Officials from the local government and hospital staff, PP10 Mission Commander Capt. Lisa M. Franchetti and area residents were on hand for the festive event.

Construction Electrician 2nd Class Jacob Simino, the project's crew leader, said local residents gave the Sailors a warm welcome.

"Pacific Partnership is about showing the people of the host nation that we really care about them. The previous use by Allied forces of this hospital is a historical fact that is in the hearts and minds of the locals no matter what their age," said Simino.

The hospital was built in 1945 and used by Allied Forces in World War II. This renovation program, conducted by the Naval Mobile Construction Battalion (NMCB) 11 from Gulfport, Miss., is vital to the people in the surrounding area.

Some of the work included roof repairs, replacing more than 2,500 square feet of tile, new windows and doors; installation of electrical fixtures; refinishing the interior and exterior walls; painting the entire structure inside and out; and cleaning up the landscape.

There was never a moment when the renovation crew was without an audience. Local children played close by, occasionally inviting the Seabees to play soccer. The hospital's nurses and physicians excitedly peeked in the building to see the miraculous transformation it had undergone in just a few short weeks.

"This has truly been a rewarding experience," said Utilitiesman 2nd Class Anthony Sheffield. "It's not every day that you get to work in a place where the people truly appreciate what you are doing; I am going to miss them."

Currently, the hospital serves 15,000 residents on the island. The staff includes two doctors, one dentist and 39 nurses. This extension will bring back to service various areas that were dilapidated.

This clinic, like most PP10 exercise project sites that are in need of renovations or related work, is co-determined by the host nation government and the ENCAP team leadership.

The Seabees worked long days to meet the tight completion schedule. The renovations will affect more than 1,000 patients per month, providing them with a clean and safe environment for services.

Builder 3rd Class John Richard Gernhard said despite difficulties in getting materials to such a remote location, the work went well.

"The best part of all is that this building will be used for another 50 years, and the kids we play soccer with will be able to get proper access to health care. That alone is worth what we are doing," said Gernhard.

The ENCAP is part of PP10, the fifth in a series of annual U.S. Pacific Fleet endeavors conducted in Indonesia as a disaster relief exercise aimed at strengthening regional partnerships and increasing interoperability with U.S. interagency, host nations, partner nations and international humanitarian and relief organizations.

PP10 has included visits to Vietnam, Cambodia and Indonesia.