The Military Sealift Command hospital ship USNS Comfort (T-AH 20) departed El Salvador June 27 after completing a nine-day mission stop in support of Continuing Promise 2015 (CP-15).

U.S. and partner nation service members and non-governmental organization (NGO) volunteers worked in close coordination with the Ministry of Health and host nation medical, veterinary and military professionals to provide care to patients, along with conducting civil engineering projects from June 17 through June 25.

Rear Adm. Jon Matheson, deputy commander, U.S. Naval Forces Southern Command/U.S. 4th Fleet, highlighted the combined efforts between the people of El Salvador, the Ministry of Health, and the CP-15 crew at a closing ceremony held June 25 at Parque Botanico.

"We are fortunate to have worked alongside our friends and partners, enabling us to strengthen our ties in support of the enduring partnership between the United States and El Salvador," said Matheson.

Partnering together, CP-15 members and Salvadoran medical professionals conducted more than 100 surgeries aboard the ship and provided care to more than 14,800 patients at the established medical sites, Centro Escuela Lisandro Larn Zepeda and Centro Escolar Doctor Eduardo Enrique Barrientos.

"In terms of patients seen, this has been our largest mission stop to date. It is a great example of how collaborating and working alongside volunteers from the Ministry of Health and NGOs like Operation Blessing and Latter-day Saint Charities, serve to strengthen friendships and ties with El Salvador, as well as provide assistance to the local community." said Lt. Cmdr. James Crumpton, officer in charge of the Centro Escuela Lisandro Larn Zepeda medical site.

Additionally, the CP-15 mission crew conducted subject matter expert exchanges on more than 150 topics with Salvadoran medical professionals, veterinarians, biomedical technicians and local religious officials. Basic life support, disease and diagnosis, and water sanitation were among the topics covered.

CP-15 personnel collaborated with the El Salvador Ministry of Health to host a seminar on women's health, providing Salvadoran health care professionals and CP-15 medical providers an opportunity to discuss the best methods for treating and educating female patients on common topics and health-related issues.

In addition to medical assistance and information exchanges, Seabees assigned to Construction Battalion Maintenance Unit (CBMU) 202 completed eight engineering projects at Escuela de Education Especial and Instituto National de Acajutla.

The work included the construction of a pavilion, installing handicap railings, plumbing projects and foundation repairs.

Army veterinarians and veterinarian technicians partnered with host nation veterinarians to treat more than 900 animals during five veterinary civil affairs programs held in several rural communities. Services included free examinations and vaccinations to both dogs and cats. The team also had the opportunity to visit local dairy farms to collaborate with ranchers on dairy cattle management and visited an Army base to evaluate and treat military working horses.

Community relations (COMRELs) events included 16 performances by members from the U.S. Fleet Forces Band, Uncharted Waters, including several joint performances with the Salvadoran military concert band, Destacamento Militar 6. The band also conducted a Master's Class with the El Salvador Youth Orchestra. Comfort's crew took part in a softball game with students and teachers at Escuela Republica de Haiti in Sonsonate and delivered donations of shoes and dental hygiene products to students at Reino de Espana School and San Julian School.

Comfort has made mission stops in Belize, Guatemala, Jamaica, Nicaragua and Panama since deploying in April. Additional stops are planned for Colombia, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Haiti, and Honduras.

Continuing Promise is a U.S. Southern Command-sponsored and U.S. Naval Forces Southern Command/U.S. 4th Fleet-conducted deployment to conduct civil-military operations including humanitarian-civil assistance, subject matter expert exchanges, medical, dental, veterinary and engineering support and disaster response to partner nations and to show the United States' continued support and commitment to Central and South America and the Caribbean.

For more news from Continuing Promise, visit www.navy.mil/.