'Peace Ark’, a Naval Hospital Ship from China, will visit Nuku’alofa for the second time to provide free medical services from August 13-20.

The ship will bring more than 100 medical personnel to provide medical services with physical examinations, diagnosis and treatment.

A spokesperson from Vaiola Hospital said today the medical services will be open to the public for consultation on certain hours, starting on Monday afternoon August 13, after a welcoming ceremony.

At the same time, a medical team will also be dispatched to carry out the same service at health centers in Mu’a and Kolovai on certain dates, while a helicopter is expected to fly a medical team to 'Eua on Friday, August 19.

Commissioned in October 2008 by the People’s Liberation Army Navy, the ship has a full displacement of 14,300 tons. It has an ambulance helicopter and is equipped with 300 beds, eight operating rooms and more than 200 types of medical devices including CT, ultrasonic, biochemistry analyzer and monitors.

The Peace Ark first visited Tonga in 2014 and provided a week of free medical services to over 4,000 outpatients and performed 39 surgeries.

In addition, King Tupou VI and Queen Nanasipau'u visited the hospital ship and met with medical personnel and patients.