press releases
U.S. Military Medical Personnel Leave North West Frontier Province Supplied With Pediatric Medicines
02/22/2006Shinkiari – The United States Navy/Marine Corps Combined Medical Response Team 3 (CMRT 3) conducted a ceremony today to mark its return to Okinawa, Japan. The CMRT 3 served the medical needs of the North West Frontier Province while 12 local medical facilities were being restored from the damages caused by the October 8 earthquake.
As the demands of the initial relief effort became less intensive, the CMRT focused on medical outreach, vaccinating and providing basic healthcare to thousands of villagers in remote and inaccessible areas. Now with relief efforts segueing into long-term reconstruction, the Marines and sailors of CMRT 3 are preparing their return to III Marine Expeditionary Force in Japan.
Over 200 Marine Corps and Navy personnel staffed the CMRT, including ten doctors, six nurses and 40 hospital corpsmen. Since November 17, 2005, CMRT 3 brought state-of-the-art medical care to around 15,000 patients, performing over 50 life-saving surgeries. The CMRT is a self-contained 60-bed mobile hospital with operating rooms, an Intensive Care Unit, radiology, laboratory and pharmacy.
Last week, CMRT 3 donated 900 bottles of pediatric medicines and more than 300 pounds of construction materials to the local relief camp clinic. The donated medicines will treat illnesses such as flu, fever, asthma and the common cold.
"This donation allows the CMRT’s good work to continue even after its departure," said Marine Lt. Col. Jamie Gannon, commanding officer of the CMRT. "The medicine will treat those most affected by the earthquake -- the children."