The Solomon Islands has received the U.S. Navy hospital ship, the Mercy, during its inaugural visit to the island despite earlier rejecting a scheduled port call from U.S. Coast Guard vessel, the Oliver Henry.
On Aug. 31, the Solomons government released a statement saying Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare spoke at the welcoming ceremony for the Mercy.
The hospital ship is one of the largest vessels to visit the Pacific nation and will provide extensive medical services to civilians of the Solomons with over 1,000 dental services and 70 surgeries.
The Mercy team will also deploy teams to the Kilu’ufi Hospital in Malaita Province and Gizo Hospital in Western Province….