Zamboanaga, Philippines (May 26, 2006) - The first patient is admitted to the casualty receiving (CASREC) ward aboard the Military Sealift Command (MSC) hospital ship USNS Mercy (T-AH 19) anchored off the city of Zamboanga Philippines. For the next several days, the ship will be conducting humanitarian and civic assistance in the local area. Mercy is on a five-month deployment to South Asia, Southeast Asia and the Pacific Islands. Mercy’s medical crew will provide general and ophthalmology surgery, basic medical evaluation and treatment, preventive medicine treatment, dental screenings and treatment, optometry screenings, eyewear distribution, public health training and veterinary services as requested by the host nations. Mercy is uniquely capable of supporting medical and humanitarian assistance needs and is configured with special medical equipment and a robust multi-specialized medical team that can provide a range of services ashore as well as aboard the ship. The medical staff is augmented with an assistance crew, many of whom are part of non-governmental organizations that have significant medical capabilities. U.S. Navy photo by Chief Photographer's Mate Don Bray.