press release

U.S. Surgeon General Visits USNS Comfort
Health diplomacy links United States to humanitarian aid

09 July 2009

Washington — Rear Admiral Steven Galson, the acting U.S. surgeon general, visited the Navy hospital ship USNS Comfort in Nicaragua recently in an effort to boost crew morale and bring attention to the priority that the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services gives to humanitarian aid. Galson also is head of the U.S. Public Health Service Commissioned Corps, which has officers serving on the Comfort.

Galson told America.gov that humanitarian help is where “the U.S. can show that we really do care about the developing world. We can be brothers and sisters to these people.” He said he would like to see the United States do more, year-round, in every area possible. “We’re big enough and rich enough to help domestically and internationally. By helping in public health abroad, we are actually helping here — to treat an infection or influenza abroad is a help to us here.”

Galson embraces the vision of “health diplomacy” that is part of his work with the Department of Health and Human Services. “Health diplomacy transcends everything in the human connection,” he said. He stressed this outreach to “our brothers and sisters” and that the United States can be active in touching lives and helping others prevent disease.

Galson also said he is committed to the Comfort’s objective to train and educate others.  The ship visits include training for and with local health practitioners. Health diplomacy recognizes the importance of sustainability — teaching people to teach others, Galson said. This emphasis will have a lasting effect long after the Navy ship pulls up anchor, he added.

Even veterinary medicine is important. Galson stressed that the proper care of farm animals is a large part of public health work. If the animals are not healthy, then the families that own them cannot subsist. Rabies, for example, is endemic in the countries visited by the Comfort, so the vaccination of animals and subsequent prevention of rabies is important. Veterinary care from the Comfort doctors has touched many lives during the four-month cruise of the ship, with vaccination clinics and civic education classes, sometimes aimed at children with their domestic pets.

The importance of the work in Central America is above political conflicts or past challenges, according to Galson. “The presence of this mission is showing that the people of the U.S. are interested in the health of the people of this region regardless of the political history,” Galson said. “It transcends anything in the past.” He emphasized the touching experiences his colleagues have had in this work. Some have never had such exposure to other peoples and cultures as they have had on this mission and it has had an effect on their lives, he said.

The Comfort has taken a multiagency approach to humanitarian aid, including members of all the U.S. armed forces as well as nongovernmental organizations, volunteer organizations, and host countries’ health officials. “There are not many examples like the Comfort where we have true interagency collaboration,” Galson said. “This is adding value and strength to the humanitarian effort and could be used as a role model for other efforts.”

Not only is the Navy ship the embodiment of ready aid and eager practitioners, but, as the acting U.S. surgeon general said, “This area of humanitarian response gives us an area to shine.”