From September 3-12, the U.S Navy Hospital Ship, USNS Comfort (T-AH 20) will offer free medical services to citizens. The ship will dock off the La Brea Port in Brighton.
According to a release posted on the US Embassy in Trinidad and Tobago’s website:
- Members of the public can access services from free clinics on a first come, first serve basis.
- No pre-registration is required.
- ID is not required to seek medical care, but will be helpful if medicine has to be dispensed.
The following are the clinic sites:
• Rio Claro Free Medical Clinic: August 30, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., at Ecclesville Presbyterian School, Rio Claro. Medical services offered are Adult Medicine, General Medicine, Physical Therapy and Paediatrics.
• Cedros Free Medical Clinic: September 5-10, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., at Cedros Community Centre. The medical services offered are Adult Medical Services, Paediatric Medical Services, Dental, Optometry, and Physical Therapy.
• Point Fortin Free Medical Clinic: September 5-10, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., at the South West Regional Indoor Sport Arena (SWRISA), Point Fortin. The medical services offered are Adult Medical Services, Paediatric Medical Services, Dental, Optometry, Physical Therapy and Dermatology.
• La Brea Free Medical Clinic: September 6 and 7, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., at the National Energy Skills Centre, La Brea. Medical services offered are General Medicine, Paediatrics, Chronic Disease testing, and other basic medical tests.
• Debe Free Medical Clinic: September 6 and 7, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., at Fun Splash, Debe. Medical services offered are General Medicine, Women’s Health (including pap smears), HIV testing, and various vaccinations and basic medical tests.
The statement continues:
“In order to accommodate the greatest number of appointments, doctors will only address one medical issue per patient per visit.
The patient must prioritise and determine which issue that will be.
Patients may re-enter at the end of the line upon completion, or visit the clinic on multiple days to receive treatment.
The clinics do not review any medical documents ahead of time.
Patients should not send any documents to the US Embassy.
Surgeries will be performed on board the USNS Comfort from September 5-10.
There is no registration or walk-in service for the Comfort as all surgical candidates are pre-selected and screened, primarily from Ministry of Health’s existing patient waiting lists.
Please note while the USNS Comfort will anchor at sea near La Brea Port, persons should not attempt to visit the ship on supply boats, as the port is a secure site.
There will also be helicopter activity close to the medical sites as supplies are transported. Residents should not be alarmed or, for safety reasons, try to get close.
The visit of the USNS Comfort is part of the ship’s deployment to South America, Central America, and the Caribbean for a five-month medical assistance mission, as a result of the humanitarian crisis created by the ongoing political and economic instability in Venezuela.
The deployment is a function of the US Enduring Promise initiative extending hope and an outstretched hand to communities in the region and the displaced citizens of Venezuela.
The US is committed to increasing partner capacity and regional collaboration for medical assistance and disaster relief- a continued high priority for the region”.
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