USNS Comfort Deployment 2019
Hospital Ship Mission to Central America, South America and the Caribbean

During its five-month deployment (June - November), USNS Comfort (T-AH 20) provided medical assistance in support of regional partners and in response to the regional impacts of the Venezuela political and economic crisis.  Comfort conducted mission stops in Colombia, Costa Rica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Grenada, Haiti, Jamaica, Panama, Peru, Saint Lucia, St. Kitts and Nevis, and Trinidad and Tobago.

Photos from USNS Comfort Mission

ALL IMAGERY FROM USNS COMFORT MISSION (DVIDS)

Overview

The U.S. Navy hospital ship USNS Comfort (T-AH 20) deploys from Naval Station Norfolk on Friday, June 14. 

U.S. military medical personnel aboard the Comfort will work alongside a variety of governmental agencies to provide medical assistance to communities based on needs identified by host-nation health ministries, and to relieve pressure on host nation medical systems in countries hosting Venezuelans who have fled the country’s crisis.

The Comfort mission demonstrates the U.S commitment to the Americas and is part of a continuum of support provided by U.S. Southern Command. SOUTHCOM-sponsored civic assistance and humanitarian missions happen in close cooperation with partner nations in the region as well as with U.S. interagency partners. Similar missions include Continuing Promise, New Horizons, Beyond the Horizon, medical readiness training exercises and the Medical Civil Action Program. 

About USNS Comfort

A U.S. Navy hospital ship has the capacity to provide afloat, mobile, acute surgical medical facilities to the U.S. military, and is an optimal platform to provide hospital services in support of U.S. humanitarian assistance and disaster relief operations worldwide.

Medical & Dental Services Provided

  • Basic medical evaluation and treatment
  • Preventive medicine
  • Dental screenings and treatment
  • Optometry screenings
  • Eyewear distribution
  • General surgery
  • Ophthalmologic surgery
  • Public health training
  • Additional specialties as required

Background

This marks the hospital ship’s seventh deployment to the region since 2007 and second deployment to the Western Hemisphere in the last six months. The mission reflects the United States’ enduring promise of friendship, partnership, and solidarity with the people of the Americas. The USNS Comfort operation is part of the Caribbean 2020 Strategy to increase the security, prosperity and well-being of the people of the United States and the Caribbean.

 

USNS Comfort Mission to Latin America 2018

Read More: 'Legacy of USNS Comfort' by U.S. Naval History and Heritage Command

News and Articles

See all articles from USNS Comfort's 2018 mission to Latin America


Watch: Overview of USNS Comfort mission to Latin America 2019 

The USNS Comfort celebrates her seventh deployment as part of U.S. Southern Command's enduring promise of care and friendship for partner nations in the Americas. During the five-month humanitarian tour, the ship will conduct port calls to multiple nations. (Video by Staff Sgt. Jevon Smith) 

WATCH: Vice President Pence USNS Comfort Speech

Vice President Michael Pence speaks at the Port of Miami before the hospital ship USNS Comfort departs for a five-month humanitarian assistance mission, June 18, 2019.

WATCH: Adm. Faller USNS Comfort Speech

Navy Adm. Craig Faller, commander of U.S. Southern Command, speaks at the Port of Miami before the hospital ship USNS Comfort departs for a five-month humanitarian assistance mission, June 18, 2019.

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