BY close of business hours on Sunday, July 16, the Innovative Readiness Training-Wellness Mission 2023 had provided about $983,843 in medical and ancillary services to Saipan, Tinian and Rota, Col. Hugh West, the mission commander, said during a presentation at American Memorial Park on Monday, July 17.
He added that because the wellness mission ends on Wednesday, July 19, this figure will grow. These services came at no-cost to the CNMI.
West said from July 12 to 16, U.S. military personnel treated 1,482 patients on Saipan, 364 patients on Tinian, and 357 patients on Rota.
As for veterinarian services, West said they treated 258 veterinary patients on Saipan, 63 on Tinian, and 46 on Rota.
West also shared a breakdown of the cost per service rendered on Saipan, Tinian, and Rota. Data showed that dental services comprised the largest cost of services on the three main islands.
On Saipan, a total of $164,066 in dental services were rendered; on Tinian, $173,737; and on Rota, $104,038.
When Variety visited the wellness mission registration site at the AMP softball field on Thursday, July 13, dental services were in high demand.
Asked if dental services will receive more emphasis in future wellness missions, West said: “Obviously…it will get more attention from a funding standpoint….”
Lt. Col. Kristin Porter, the mission’s public affairs officer, said if community members fill out the evaluation survey at bit.ly/3XJAW2E, they can help influence the kinds of services offered by future wellness missions.
“[The survey] is where we’re asking patients to identify what needs they have that have not been able to be met here,” Porter said.
So far, she added, there have been calls for more dog and cat deworming and vaccination services; tick and flea prevention; surgical procedures; more dental capabilities; eye surgery; and radiology and labs.
“On Friday I toured all the stations at the hospital, and it was very, very impressive,” said Lt. Gov. Apatang, adding that he was “happy” to see community members taking advantage of the medical and veterinary services provided by the military.
“This community is grateful for all the services that [the military has] provided over the last several days,” Gov. Arnold I. Palacios said.
Col. Hugh West, commander of the Innovative Readiness Training-Wellness Mission 2023, shares information about the medical and veterinary services it is offering to the CNMI.
Data provided by Col. Hugh West, commander of the Innovative Readiness Training-Wellness Mission 2023, shows the number of patients seen on Saipan, Tinian, and Rota.
