Mormons Continue to Supply USNS Comfort with Staff and Supplies

Participation in the U.S. Navy’s Operation Continuing Promise mission improves the Mormon Church‘s capacity for responding to emergencies.  The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints has provided 60% of the Navy emergency medical ship’s staff and supplies for its 4-month mission in 2009.  The ship visited seven countries on its humanitarian aid mission.  The plan is to continue the mission this year.

Nate Leishman, the manager of Humanitarian Emergency Response for The Church, has tracked natural disasters and noted that they are on the increase.  He cites prophecies of last-days disasters as part of the reason.  Expecting this increase, the Church has ramped up its ability to respond, partially by teaming with other charitable organizations.

The LDS Church has recently responded to flooding in the Northeast; earthquakes in Chile, Haiti and Indonesia; a tsunami in Samoa; typhoons in the Philippines; and civil unrest in Zimbabwe.  “We’re really responding to something almost every day somewhere around the world,” Leishman said.  The tsunami in Southeast Asia and the earthquake in Haiti were the biggest disasters in recent history.  Leishman expects the Church to be involved in humanitarian efforts in Haiti “for years to come.”  The Church is still offering relief in Asia.

Haiti was among the seven Caribbean, Central American and South American nations visited by the USNS Comfort between April 1 and July 31, 2009. The LDS Church’s role began when a representative from humanitarian partner Islamic Relief suggested that the Navy’s annual humanitarian voyages were a worthwhile project to be apart of.  Leishman attended a conference in January 2009 where he was told that the Comfort needed supplies, but also nurses, translators and general volunteers.

The Presiding Bishopric approved the Church’s involvement, and LDS Humanitarian Services loaded the comfort with hygiene, medical and school supplies.

It was easier than expected to find volunteer support. Forty-five Latter-day Saints were stationed aboard the Comfort on a rotating basis, each serving at least one month. The church also made 137 volunteers available in-country from its missionary force and church membership.  With the help of in-country volunteers, the 650 medical professionals onboard the Comfort, of which 600 were active duty and reserve military, counted 432,846 healthcare service encounters, treated 100,049 patients, performed 1,657 surgeries (such as cataract removal and cleft palette repair) and helped 15,003 dental patients.  Eleven other countries besides the United States had military personnel involved.

The Church was able to strengthen relationships with other non-governmental organizations, U.S. military leaders, ambassadors and the governments of the seven nations (Haiti, Dominican Republic, Antigua, Colombia, Panama, Nicaragua and El Salvador).

The USNS Comfort has since returned to Haiti to provide aid for earthquake victims. Participation in projects such as Operation Continuing Promise helps facilitate future humanitarian efforts, Leishman said.