Africa Partnership Station Arrives in Monrovia, Liberia
(MONROVIA) August 31, 2009 – The U.S. Navy vessel HSV Swift will arrive at the port of Monrovia on September 2, 2009 to conduct training and assistance programs as part of the Africa Partnership Station (APS). Through September 15, APS will conduct primary care/health screenings, maternal and child services education, dental extraction, dental health services, dental education, eye examination and distribution of prescribed eyeglasses, veterinary services and education, biomedical repair education and services and advance lab education at several Liberian medical facilities including, the John F. Kennedy Medical Center and Redemption Hospital.
During this deployment, APS will also construct two medical wards at the Redemption Hospital and begin working on the Liberian Coast Guard Pier. The HSV Swift is carrying 144,000 meals provided by Kids Against Hunger International and basic medical supplies, which will be handed over at a September 4 ceremony at the John F. Kennedy Medical Center in Sinkor. Veterinary care and immunization will be provided at the Gibson School in Monrovia. Project Hope volunteers along with U.S. Military medical professionals will engage in peer to peer training with local national care practitioners while providing care to local Liberians.
Utilizing the High Speed Vessel Swift (HSV 2), the APS staff provides medical and training visits visit for African nations as part of U.S. Africa Command outreach. Trainers will include both civilians and military from the United States, European and African nations, including NGOs and other agencies of the U.S. government. APS is one in a series of activities designed to build maritime safety and security in Africa in a comprehensive and collaborative manner, focusing first on the Gulf of Guinea. It responds to specific African requests for assistance, is aligned with broad international community and U.S. objectives. It seeks to take partnerships into action in a concerted interagency and multinational effort to promote maritime governance around Africa. APS is inspired by the belief that effective maritime safety and security will contribute to development, economic prosperity, and security ashore.