News Release

Medical Ship Humanitarian Clinics Lift Lives

Members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints have been supporting the US medical ship, USNS Mercy, in Fiji over the last several days.

Each person helped by the volunteer service of those associated with the humanitarian visit has his or her own story.

One young mother brought her two-year-old boy, born with a cleft palate, to a USNS Mercy clinic in Fiji last week.  After screening by the USNS Mercy team, and some preliminary dental care, he is now going to undergo an operation to fix his palate.

Mercy ship doctors also treated a four-year-old boy suffering from a painful condition. They diagnosed the problem and operated on the boy straight away. The boy’s mother and grandmother expressed thanks for the humanitarian specialists for helping their son and grandson.  

A woman visited with a Mercy team optometrist about her near-sightedness. Her vision was tested and new glasses were given to her.

Several of the medical and dental specialists on the USNS Mercy are members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

Earlier in the week a number of pallets of medical supplies, donated by LDS Charities, were distributed to hospitals throughout Fiji.

Other Latter-day Saint volunteers, including missionaries, have been supporting the USNS Mercy team as they have been providing care to many Fiji citizens who otherwise may not have access to such care.

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