By Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Kelly E. Barnes

USNS Comfort Public Affairs

PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti (NNS) -- The secretary of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services toured hospital ship USNS Comfort (T-AH 20) Sept. 7 during the ship’s humanitarian mission to Port-au-Prince, Haiti.

Secretary Michael Leavitt was accompanied by U.S. Ambassador to Haiti Janet Sanderson, who had toured the ship previously in the week.

Leavitt leads the nation’s efforts to protect the health of all Americans and provide essential human services to those in need. He strongly supports Comfort’s mission and said he was excited to witness the help the crew is offering.

“I saw cross-service collaboration going to a region of the world that badly needs the help,” Leavitt said. “I also saw our partnership being highlighted in a way that will be remembered by people in this region forever.”

For the tour, Leavitt visited Comfort’s casualty and receiving area, the operating rooms, the dental department, a patient ward and the intensive care unit where patients recover after surgery.

Leavitt spoke with crew members and was impressed with their dedication and hard work during the mission.

“This is a very positive thing for the individuals who were served,” Leavitt said. “And it was a powerful moment in the lives of our nations as partners.”

Comfort is on a four-month humanitarian deployment to Latin America and the Caribbean providing medical assistance to patients in a dozen countries. The deployment is in support of the U.S. Southern Command’s Partnership for the Americas initiative, strengthening the ties between the United States and partner nations.

For more news from USNS Comfort, visit www.news.navy.mil/local/tah20/.