PM thanks Comfort Crew for medical assistance

Prime Minister Portia Simpson Miller yesterday expressed gratitude to the United States Naval Ship (USNS) Comfort for generously providing well-needed medical services to many Jamaicans.

During the period May 6 to 13, the Comfort team provided medical services to approximately 10,000 Jamaicans, conducted professional medical exchanges with their Jamaican counterparts and engaged in community outreach projects at schools across the island.

Speaking at the closing ceremony held at the United States Embassy on Wednesday, the prime minister thanked the United States government and the Comfort crew members.

vital support

"Thank you for partnering with the Government of Jamaica to address some of the pressing social needs of our people and to provide service to the most vulnerable among us," she said. "It also lends vital support to the ongoing initiatives of the Government to improve our facilities, services, and access to quality health care and education for all our people," Simpson Miller added.

More than 100 medical personnel, as well as several engineers and other crew members worked at several hospitals, health centres and schools during the period. Services provided at medical facilities included optometry, dentistry, general medical, women's health, paediatric care, and pharmacy.

The prime minister noted that the humanitarian initiative has served to "strengthen this special bond of friendship that our countries (US and Jamaica) and people share".

The visit of the USNS Comfort to Jamaica is part of a six-month humanitarian mission across the Caribbean region. In addition to Jamaica, the ship will visit 10 countries throughout the Carib-bean and Central and South America including Belize, Colum-bia, Dominica, the Dominican Republic, El Salvador, Guatemala, Haiti, Honduras, Nicaragua, and Panama.