By Lt. Dana Deree, Pacific Partnership Public Affairs

APIA, Samoa (NNS) -- The life of a two-year-old Samoan child was saved by medical personnel who were providing health care services as part of Pacific Partnership 2009 in Lalomanu, Samoa, July 3.

According to the U.S. Navy doctor who treated him, the child had suffered from severe gastroenteritis, and the resulting fluid loss placed his life in immediate danger.

After 10 attempts to provide intravenous (IV) therapy failed due to the child's extreme dehydration, an emergency surgical procedure to gain IV access was performed successfully.

The boy was resuscitated and transferred to Samoa's National Hospital. Staff at the National Hospital confirmed the patient has since been released and is in good condition.

"We are all very thankful that a child's life has been saved because of the quick action taken by our medical team and close coordination with Samoan healthcare professionals," said Deputy Commander of U.S. Pacific Fleet Rear Adm. Robin M. Watters, who is in Samoa to observe Pacific Partnership 2009.

"Serving the people of Samoa by working together is at the heart of what Pacific Partnership is all about," Watters said.

Pacific Partnership is the dedicated humanitarian and civil assistance mission conducted by, with and through partner nations, nongovernmental organizations and other U.S. and international government agencies to execute a variety of humanitarian civic action missions in the Pacific Fleet Area of Responsibility.

This year Pacific Partnership travels to Oceania, including Kiribati, Republic of the Marshall Islands, Samoa, Solomon Islands and Tonga. USNS Richard E. Byrd (T-AKE 4) serves as the enabling platform for U.S. and partner nation military and non-governmental organizations to coordinate humanitarian civic assistance efforts

For more news from Pacific Fleet, visit www.navy.mil/local/cpf/.