The fifth in a series of annual U.S Pacific Fleet humanitarian and civic assistance endeavors, Pacific Partnership 2010 is aimed at strengthening regional relationship with host nations and partner nations.
The visit will also mark the first time that a Pacific partnership visit has come to the Micronesian Island.
‘Pacific partnership is a great opportunity for the crew to pass on their knowledge to the residents of Palau and allows the crew to further train themselves for humanitarian missions.’ Blue Ridge Commanding Officer Capt Rudy Lupton said.
“This is also a wonderful opportunity for the crew to share in cultural exchanges in places seldom visited by service members.” He added.
The Blue Ridge and Seventh Fleet medical and dental capability teams plan to visit the Belau National Hospital, Southern Community Health Center in Peleliu State and Angaur Medical Clinic in Angaur State. The teams will also provide free primary care and prescriptions to the residents of Palau during the four-day visit.
In Koror State, the medical and dental clinic will be held at the Ngarachamayong Cultural Center starting today, July 27 until July 30.
The clinic hours will start from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. However, on Thursday the clinic hour is from 12:30 a.m. to 8:30 p.m.
In Peleliu State,itwill be held at the Southern Community Health Center. The clinic hours will also the same in Koror except on Thursday. The clinic is closed.
In Angaur the medical and dental mission will be conducted at the Angaur Medical Clinic.
The clinic schedule is on July 29 from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Sailors and Marines will participate in several community service projects around the Island including school projects such as Ngchesar Elementary School, Melekeok Elementary School, Aimeliik Elementary School, Palau High School, Peleliu Elementary School, Angaur Elementary School and the Bloody Nose Ridge World War II Monument to help renovate the areas.
The U.S. Coast Guard Cutter Washington, homeported in Guam and commanded by Lt. Nicholas Simmons, will also visit Koror during the Pacific Partnership 2010 to perform law enforcement training and participate in the community service projects.
In the last four years, Pacific Partnership has provided a variety of medical, dental, educational and preventive medicine services to more than 150,000 patients in 10 countries. More than 70 engineering projects in more than a dozen countries have brought school refurbishment and construction of entirely new clinics to remote villages.
