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The US hospital ship USNS Comfort has arrived in Port-au-Prince. Until 13 November, free medical services will be provided on land and at sea, from family medicine to surgery. The US ambassador to Port-au-Prince, Michele Sison, agreed to answer our questions about this medical mission.
RFI : Who is this hospital ship for ?
Michele Sison : The American ship Comfort intends to assist the most vulnerable populations in the Port-au-Prince region. It provides free medical care both onshore, at the Haitian Coast Guard's Killick base here in Port-au-Prince, and aboard the ship itself. The most urgent cases that require surgery are coordinated by the Haitian Ministry of Public Health. There is already a list of more than 200 patients from several Haitian cities who will be operated on board this 250-bed hospital ship.
How will they be transferred to the site, knowing that gangs currently prevent the free movement of people in the country, especially in Port-au-Prince?
The Comfort hospital ship is of course at sea. So we have two US Navy helicopters that will transport these patients waiting for surgery, and the equipment between the hospital of departure and the ship. The Haitian National Police (PNH) is fully committed to securing, not only this Haitian coastguard base - which is part of the PNH - but also the roads leading to it and hospital sites. The goal is that the maximum number of patients can benefit from this medical assistance. And of course this naval base itself is at the heart of a very populated area so we think that many people in this area will be among the first to come and consult.
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Can you specify where and how many members of the HNP will be deployed ?
"The Haitian coastguard base is part of the infrastructure of the Haitian National Police. So all planning, logistical support and patient reception is coordinated and implemented jointly with the Haitian National Police. In fact, the medical staff of the National Police works alongside American medical staff. The hospital ship Comfort has already been deployed several times in Haiti, not only to provide medical assistance, but also after natural disasters, such as the 2010 earthquake. Of course, today, the United States also calls all political, economic and civil society leaders, to work for the formation of a government in the service of Haitian citizens, to enter into a dialogue at the service of Haitians, and to allow the necessary humanitarian and food aid to reach the populations vulnerable. We are very concerned about the persistence of violence, the political and economic stalemate that has seriously affected the Haitian population in recent weeks.
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