AMCHAM T&T Makes Donations to U.S.-based Hospital Ship
MEDIA RELEASE
11/09/2019
AMCHAM T&T has sponsored 350 pap smears to the USNS Comfort mission to Trinidad and Tobago. Also responding to our call for donations were our members at the International Game Technology PLC (IGT) who donated 1000 school kits, Yara Trinidad Ltd who contributed 200 first aid kits, bottled water and snacks, and Esau Oilfield Supplies Company Limited who provided logistical assistance with the storage and delivery of these items.
The U.S. Navy hospital ship anchored off the La Brea port in Trinidad on August 30th for an eleven-day visit to provide free medical services to citizens of Trinidad and Tobago. The hospital ship, which last came to Trinidad in 2007, set up free clinics at locations in Rio Claro, Cedros, Point Fortin, La Brea, and Debe where members of the public were given access to medical services ranging from general medicine, pediatrics, dental, optometry, physical therapy, dermatology, chronic disease testing, Women’s Health (including Pap smears), HIV testing, and various vaccinations.
The arrival of the ship was coordinated through the efforts of the U.S. Embassy and is part of the commitment made by the U.S. to increase partner capacity and regional collaboration for medical assistance and disaster relief which remains a continued high priority for the region.
AMCHAM T&T CEO, Nirad Tewarie applauds this initiative by the U.S. Embassy saying: “An initiative like this will definitely provide much-needed medical assistance and health care for so many of our most vulnerable citizens where access to health care remains out of reach and out of their pockets. The surgeries and procedures being performed by the staff of the USNS Comfort might be considered lifesaving measures for the people who will be receiving this medical assistance. AMCHAM T&T is delighted to have contributed to this worthy cause.”
The visit of the USNS Comfort is part of the ship’s deployment to South America, Central America, and the Caribbean for a five-month medical assistance mission, as a result of the humanitarian crisis created by the ongoing political and economic instability in Venezuela. The ship anchored off the southern part of Trinidad where there is an additional burden on health facilities as the highest concentration of migrants displaced by the crisis in Venezuela is in the south.
AMCHAM T&T would like to thank our partners at YARA Trinidad Ltd and IGT for their contributions of First Aid kits, bottled water, and School kits to this worthy cause, Esau Oilfield Supplies Company Limited for rendering assistance with the collection, storage, and delivery of these items and eZone for assisting with transportation.
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