News and Policy
Weather can’t hinder USNS Comfort’s mission
During its first day of services in Colombia, the USNS COMFORT provided care to over 1,000 patients and provided more than 3,000 medical services to the people of the Buenaventura region. On Friday, poor weather conditions forced many of the COMFORT doctors to return to the ship.
Because of bad weather, and after consultations with the Colombian Government and the U.S. Embassy, the Commodore of the COMFORT decided to reduce the number of doctors on the ground but lengthened their hours at the Buenaventura Coliseum in order to continue seeing patients. The COMFORT’s Buenaventura Coliseum site leader, Capitán de corbeta, Many Santiago told a waiting crowd of patients: "Our Commodore has decided to continue with the mission and we will continue to see patients today. We will stay here in order to see patients tomorrow, and after tomorrow as well.".
Captain Bob Kapcio, Commodore of the COMFORT, told journalists during a teleconference on Friday, “We will be providing services as best we can throughout the weekend. We will continually monitor the weather, and as weather permits, we will readjust our services accordingly. We are doing everything we can to see as many Colombia people as we can, including looking at the possibility of extending our stay in Buenaventura by one day.
Bogotá D.C., August 24, 2007