It's called a hospital ship and the U.S. Navy vessel called "the USNS Comfort" is in Belizean waters tonight - getting ready to offer a wide range of free medical treatment to Belizeans. It carries a staff of about 500 medical professionals specializing in general surgery, orthopedics, plastic surgery, pediatric surgery, oral surgery, ear nose and throat, and obstetrics and gynecology. They are equipped to provide services, ranging from basic tooth extractions to surgical repair of cleft pallets and tumor removal. And what's more the ship has 12 operating rooms, four intensive ce units, and a dentistry unit. Screening for those who will receive treatment began today at the KHMH.
It's a major operation, but according to one of the local liaisons, Dr. Karl Meggs, the plans for Belize had to be scaled back. We asked him why.
Jules Vasquez,
We were told last week that there would be dozens of theatres open, hundreds of consultations would happen. It has been downscaled.
Dr. Karl Meggs, Dentist
"It's been downscaled, yes. The whole exercise is not going to manifest into what we had expected. Our expectations were much higher than what is now unfolding in front of us. We were supposed to be doing like so many surgeries. Yes the surgeries are going to be done however to a much less extent than we anticipated. This is a first time mission so I will say maybe we could take it as a learning experience then we go from here."
Jules Vasquez,
Is this a tactical decision, a strategic decision, an administrative decision or a political decision?
Dr. Karl Meggs,
"That I really couldn't answer. We are the core committee and we were just informed and that is as far as we can go. There is no way where this ship was enroute to Belize so there is nobody to go and physically walk up to and say but this is what we are supposed to do or what was expected."
Jules Vasquez,
But this is a letdown for us certainly.
Dr. Karl Meggs,
"Letdown is a very strong word."
Comfort is on a 12 nation tour in which it plans to see 85,000 patients.
