Pacific Partnership mission 2009 begins in Ha'apai [1]
Wednesday, July 15, 2009 - 22:42. Updated on Monday, September 9, 2013 - 18:40.
By Linny Folau
THE Pacific Partnership Mission descended on the shores of Ha'apai on July 14 with the arrival of the United States Naval Ship Richard E. Byrd bringing a team of doctors, veterinarians, and dentists to conduct 13 days of medical and civic missions ashore.
The United States led mission involves a total of 260 officers and civilians as well as partner nations from Australia, Canada, New Zealand, and Singapore who are working alongside Tongan counterparts.
The four month long mission in the South Pacific includes the delivering of much needed engineering, medical and dental aid in Samoa, Tonga, Solomon Islands, Kiribati and the Republic of the Marshall Islands.
In Tonga the mission is for 13 days and focuses on the two priority areas of education and health services based on the main islands of Foa and Lifuka. A special medical outreach program will also reach the remote islands of Nomuka, Ha'afeva and 'Uiha.
Education infrastructure
The education infrastructure work is being carried out in four Government Primary Schools, Koulo, Faleloa, Hihifo and Tongaleleka. Engineering work is currently underway to repair roofs and windows and to paint classrooms.
At the same time the mission team of doctors and dentists are providing health care at the main Niu'ui Hospital offering general health care, dental treatment and ophthalmology.
The outreach program will take a group of doctors, dentists and vets to the islands of Nomuka, Ha'afeva and 'Uiha offering medical help to residences onboard an Australian ship.
Joint efforts
In an opening ceremony held at Pangai High School to mark the start of the mission on July 14, the Commander of the Pacific Partnership 2009 Commodore Andrew Cully said that the partnership celebrates the joint cooperative efforts between partner nations and non-governmental organisations.
He explained the Pacific Partnership was born out of the tragedy of the Indian Ocean tsunami and the devastating event should remind everyone that we must turn to one another in times of emergency as friends and partners.
"Pacific Partnership exists so that we can all be better prepared should there be a next time. Our goal is to grow in friendship, learn from one another, and build skills that will allow us all to respond in the event of any future humanitarian crisis.
"As our doctors and nurses treat the sick, our engineers build, and our people interact, we hope for a long-lasting impact and a deepening of the bonds of friendship," he added.
Warmly welcomed
Representing the Tongan Government was the Minister of Education Rev Dr Tevita Palefau who warmly welcomed the US led mission to Ha'apai, "the friendliest of the friendly islands."
He said for Tonga it is truly amazing to know that the United States Government still has the time and resources to deploy a civic mission while the US men and women are serving in Iraq and during the current financial crisis.
He said the Government of Tonga has prioritised health and education as two of its very important sectors at the same time it is committed in further developing it.
The Minister said this is evident in the $36.7 million pa'anga budget allocated for education and $26.1 million for health, which is out of the government's $225.4 million pa'anga budget for 2009-10.
"This medical and civic mission will indeed help improve these two sectors in Ha'apai and the local people are on hand to help and provide assistance."
The opening ceremony featured entertainment from students who were present with parents to show their appreciation for the mission.
A closing ceremony on July 25 at Pangai will mark the end of the mission at Pangai, Ha'apai.
Asia tsunami
The Pacific Partnership Mission held annually since the 2004 Asia tsunami.
In 2008 under the Pacific Partnership, the USNS Mercy, one of the U.S. Navy's two hospital ships, conducted a four-months humanitarian mission to the Philippines, Vietnam, the Federated States of Micronesia, Timor-Leste and Papua New Guinea.
The team provided a variety of medical, dental, educational and preventive medicine services to more than 90,000 patients.