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	Comfort Departs Costa Rica Following Closing Ceremony
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        <h1 class="title">Comfort Departs Costa Rica Following Closing Ceremony</h1>
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            <div class="image-title">190721-N-IA905-1245</div>
            <div class="image-caption">190721-N-IA905-1245 PUNTARENAS, Costa Rica (July 21, 2019) A U.S. Army UH-60L Blackhawk transfers supplies from the hospital ship USNS Comfort (T-AH 20) to temporary medical sites. Comfort is working with health and government partners in Central America, South America, and the Caribbean to provide care on the ship and at land-based medical sites, helping to relieve pressure on national medical systems strained by an increase in Venezuelan migrants. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Morgan K. Nall)</div>
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            <div class="image-caption">190721-N-IA905-1115 PUNTARENAS, Costa Rica (July 21, 2019) Naval Aircrewman (Helicopter) 2nd Class Bruno Ferreria, from Orlando, Fla., flies in an MH-60S Seahawk assigned to the “Dragon Whales” of Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron 28, as they transfer supplies from the hospital ship USNS Comfort (T-AH 20) to temporary medical treatment sites. Comfort is working with health and government partners in Central America, South America, and the Caribbean to provide care on the ship and at land-based medical sites, helping to relieve pressure on national medical systems strained by an increase in Venezuelan migrants. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Morgan K. Nall)</div>
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            <div class="image-caption">190723-N-XL376-1082 PUNTARENAS, Costa Rica (July 23, 2019) Lt. Cmdr. Jaime Wong-Lopez from Sacramento, Calif., assigned to the hospital ship USNS Comfort (T-AH 20) examines a patient at a temporary medical site. Comfort is working with health and government partners in Central America, South America, and the Caribbean to provide care on the ship and at land-based medical sites, helping to relieve pressure on national medical systems strained by an increase in Venezuelan migrants. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Maria G. Llanos)</div>
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            <div class="image-caption">190723-N-MX527-1083 Puntarenas, COSTA RICA (July 23, 2019) Lt. j.g. Christianne Villanueva, a Navy nurse, assigned to hospital ship USNS Comfort (T-AH 20), helps paint a community pool while the ship is in port for a medical mission. Comfort is working with health and government partners in Central America, South America, and the Caribbean to provide care on the ship and at land-based medical sites, helping to relieve pressure on national medical systems strained by an increase in Venezuelan migrants. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Brendan Fitzgerald)</div>
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            <div class="image-caption">190723-N-FO574-1011 PUNTARENAS, Costa Rica (July 23, 2019) Lt. Cmdr. Jamie Fitch, a Navy doctor, performs a laparoscopic surgery aboard hospital ship USNS Comfort (T-AH 20). Comfort is working with health and government partners in Central America, South America, and the Caribbean to provide care on the ship and at land-based medical sites, helping to relieve pressure on national medical systems strained by an increase in Venezuelan migrants. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist Seaman Jordan R. Bair)</div>
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            <div class="image-caption">190723-N-BV658-2064 PUNTARENAS, Costa Rica (July 23, 2019) Lt. Genevieve Barrett, a Navy nurse, left, and Hospitalman Apprentice Jennifer Fekos, from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, assigned to the hospital ship USNS Comfort (T-AH 20), weigh a patient at a temporary medical treatment site. Comfort is working with health and government partners in Central America, South America, and the Caribbean to provide care on the ship and at land-based medical sites, helping to relieve pressure on national medical systems strained by an increase in Venezuelan migrants. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Kryzentia Richards)</div>
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            <div class="image-caption">190723-N-BV658-2011 PUNTARENAS, Costa Rica (July 23, 2019)  Hospitalman Danielle Duque, left, from Los Angeles, assigned to the hospital ship USNS Comfort (T-AH 20), screens a patient at a temporary medical treatment site. Comfort is working with health and government partners in Central America, South America, and the Caribbean to provide care on the ship and at land-based medical sites, helping to relieve pressure on national medical systems strained by an increase in Venezuelan migrants. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Kryzentia Richards)</div>
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            <div class="image-title">Adm. Faller Visits Costa Rica</div>
            <div class="image-caption">190726-N-AM903-1029 PUNTARENAS, Costa Rica (July 26, 2019) Adm. Craig S. Faller, commander, U.S. Southern Command, poses for a photo on a tour of a temporary medical treatment site. The hospital ship USNS Comfort (T-AH 20) is working with health and government partners in Central America, South America, and the Caribbean to provide care on the ship and at land-based medical sites, helping to relieve pressure on national medical systems strained by an increase in Venezuelan migrants. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Julio Martinez Martinez)</div>
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    <div><b>By U.S. Naval Forces Southern Command & U.S. Fourth Fleet</b> <span class="date">/ Published July 31, 2019</span></div>
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    <p>The hospital ship USNS Comfort (T-AH 20) held its closing ceremony at Gimnasio el Coloso de Barranca symbolizing the completion of the hospital ship’s third medical mission in Central America, South America, and the Caribbean, July 27.</p>

<p>U.S. and Costa Rican government officials spoke of the commitment between the partner nations and the symbol of goodwill that Comfort brought to Costa Rican citizens and Nicaraguan and Venezuelan migrants.</p>

<p>“I’m proud of the efforts of our Costa Rican partners and the USNS Comfort to provide medical services to Venezuelans in need, offer aid and comfort to our friends from Nicaragua, and support thousands of Costa Rican friends through this visit,” said Sharon Day, U.S. Ambassador to Costa Rica. </p>

<p>During the Comfort’s five-day mission in Puntarenas, 320 medical professionals of the U.S. Air Force, Army, and Navy, alongside six partner nations, provided care for more than 5,500 patients at two separate shore-based medical sites and performed more than 130 surgeries aboard the ship. </p>

<p>“From diagnosing breast cancer, to saving a woman’s sight – who hadn’t seen color in 10 years – to another woman who had the opportunity to see her husband for the first time in two years,” said Day. “Those are the stories that will be told because of what the Comfort crew has done.”</p>

<p>The Comfort’s mission is accomplished through the efforts of medical and non-medical personnel. The entire Comfort team is comprised of military and civilian personnel from the United States and partner nations, including Argentina, Brazil, Canada, Costa Rica, Mexico, and Peru, as well as several non-governmental organizations, creating a dynamic team capable of delivering a variety of services. .</p>

<p>This marks the Comfort’s seventh deployment to the region since 2007. At each of the upcoming missions, the embarked medical teams will provide care aboard the Comfort and at two land-based medical sites, helping to relieve pressure on national medical systems strained partly by an increase in Venezuelan migrants. </p>

<p>This deployment is part of the U.S. Southern Command’s Enduring Promise initiative and reflects the United States’ ongoing commitment to friendship, partnership, and solidarity with partner nations in the Caribbean, Central America, and South America.</p>

<p>For more information, visit www.facebook.com/NAVSOUS4THFLT, www.dvidshub.net/feature/comfort2019, and www.navy.mil.</p>
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