The Innovative Readiness Training-CNMI Wellness Mission for Rota began Wednesday at Dr. Rita Hocog Inos Junior-Senior High School where the vice chairman of the CNMI Board of Education, Herman Atalig, a retired sergeant major, 4th left, welcomed the participating U.S. service members. From July 12 to 17, the mission will provide free medical and veterinary services to the people of Rota. Similar services will also be offered on Tinian and Saipan. The joint-service medical mission involves 130 service members from the U.S. Army Reserve, the Air National Guard, the U.S. Navy, and the U.S. Air Force.
From left, Commonwealth Bureau of Military Affairs Special Assistant Danny Aquino, Lt. Col. Kristin Porter, Col. Hugh West, Capt. Gary Knight.
THE Innovative Readiness Training-Wellness Mission 2023 may end earlier than originally planned.
At a media conference at the Commonwealth Healthcare Corp. on Wednesday, July 12, military officials said the program may end two days early.
The Innovative Readiness Training-Wellness Mission 2023 is a free community medical mission organized by the CNMI Commonwealth Bureau of Military Affairs, the Office of the Governor, and the Department of Defense, 807th Medical Command.
The mission is supposed to provide medical, dental, optometry, and veterinary services on Saipan from July 12 to 19, and on Tinian and Rota from July 12 to 17.
However, Lt. Col. Kristin Porter, the mission’s public affairs officer, said services on Saipan may stop on July 17 at 12 noon, and on Tinian and Rota on July 15 at 6p.m.
Porter, however, added that nothing has been finalized yet.
“The possible limitations of service dates is due to several factors which include: delays in commercial airlines getting our medical providers on island, and timeline requirements by the Air Force for medical equipment to dry out, packaging, transport, and reset for follow-on use at the next innovative readiness mission,” Porter told the media.
She said because of the potential early end of services, mission staff will continue to see patients until 6 p.m., instead of closing at the original scheduled time of 5 p.m.
Col. Hugh West, wellness mission commander, said that even if services do close early, there are no plans to modify the services offered.
“All services that were originally planned will be honored all the way to the conclusion, even if we have to amend our cut-off time,” West said. “All of our trained, credentialed, fully licensed providers that are here providing services are providing these services at no cost at all.”
West said, as previously reported, there are 75 medical staff on Saipan, 25 on Tinian, and 25 on Rota. He said all three islands are receiving the exact same services.
The mission’s officer in charge, Capt. Gary Knight, said as of 1 p.m. on Wednesday, July 12, there were 90 patients seen on Saipan. He said it was a “slow day,” but that moving forward there will be more patients visiting CHCC for medical services.
To be seen by the visiting medical staff, patients must register at American Memorial Park and will then be shuttled to CHCC for medical services. Afterward, the patients will be transported back to American Memorial Park.
Patients do not need to bring medical records, and because there is no charge to be seen by a doctor, there is no need for insurance.
Knight said they were monitoring the crowd numbers and the times they received an influx of patients to ensure that the next day’s delivery of services is more efficient.
“We’ll keep retrofitting and improving…moving forward,” Knight said.
Porter said despite the potential early termination, the visiting medical staff are still mission focused.
“Our hearts are focused on the people of the CNMI regardless of the number of days we are here,” she said.
