Local authorities announced on Monday that a US Navy Military Sealift Command hospital ship, the USNS Mercy (T-AH 19), will arrive in Da Nang next week to offer free medical services and other related activities.  It will dock at Tien Sa Port on August 17 and remain there until August 28.

A free of charge medical examination and treatment programme for local people will be provided by this huge mobile hospital.

Cardiovascular interventions, surgery for burns patients and operations to replace entire joints will be among the free medical services provided by the doctors aboard the ship.

The USNS Mercy hospital ship

The hospital ship has 1,000 beds and 12 operating theatres equipped with advanced equipment.  It is capable of performing general surgery, orthopaedic operations and ribcage, urological, dental, gynaecological and obstetric surgery.

People who wish to be examined and treated by the guest doctors need to register their names and other necessary details at the Da Nang Department of Foreign Affairs by 5.00 pm on August 14.

Tests carried out on patients before and after treatment will be paid for by the relevant health insurance agencies.

During their stay in Da Nang, the guests will join their hosts from the Viet Nam People’s Navy in a number of meetings and seminars on health, orthopaedic surgery, health care for soldiers, drills on heath relief at sea and on islands, and other aspects. 

The USNS Mercy is one of two hospital ships in the US Navy, and both ships are maintained by the Military Sealift Command as part of the Naval Fleet Auxiliary Force.

The vessel, which was launched on 20 July 1985 and commissioned on 8 November 1986, is 272.6 meters long and 32.3 meters wide.  It has a displacement of 69,350 tons and has a helipad suitable for all types of helicopter.

(Source: Tuoitrenews/ Danang Today)