USS Boxer to Bring Humanitarian Assistance to El Salvador
May 8, 2008

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CMDR Kenneth Morrill from the US Military Group and Gral. Oswaldo Rubio from the Salvadoran Ministry of Defense during the press conference to announce the USS Boxer's visit.

Demonstrating the close relationship between the American and Salvadoran people and governments, the light aircraft carrier USS Boxer will arrive in El Salvador on May 19 bringing with it substantial humanitarian assistance.  

The USS Boxer is on a humanitarian mission in the Pacific Ocean as part of operation ‘Continuing Promise.’  The ship will make stops in Guatemala and Peru in addition to El Salvador.  The USS Kearsarge will be carrying out a similar mission in the Caribbean later on in the year. 

At an Embassy press conference, US officials together with Dr Silvia Olivo from the Ministry of Health and General Rubén Oswaldo Rubio on behalf of the Minister of Defense described the medical services and engineering projects that will be carried out during the visit by the ship’s crew and their Salvadoran military and civilian counterparts.

Medical personnel will provide basic medical evaluation and treatment, surgeries, preventative medicine treatment, dental screenings and treatment, general public health training, and veterinary services.  The ship's health care professionals have the capacity to treat over 300 patients a day.  Two operating rooms on board will be used to perform surgeries on patients screened by Salvadoran Health authorities.

The Boxer’s crew will be working primarily in Acajutla, Sonsonate, and will be providing medical treatment at the Miravalle Educational Center from May 19 to 24, and at El Sunsa Educational Center from May 25 to 31.  The crew will also carry out engineering efforts in the two educational centers.  A third school, Delfina Rivas Educational Center, will also benefit from the ship’s assistance.

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