Peace Ark leaves Leyte after disaster relief

Hospital ship Peace Ark completed its disaster relief mission and left Leyte Gulf in the Philippines at 8 am on Dec 10.

The medical team on the ship, which arrived in the disaster area on Nov 24, diagnosed and treated 2,208 patients, among whom 2,095 were treated in the field hospital located in the damaged Leyte provincial hospital, or by mobile medical teams. Surgery was carried out on 44 people on the ship and 113 were hospitalized aboard the vessel.

The ship also examined and conducted laboratory tests on 1,482 people.

In addition to medical services, the ship sent a 13-strong epidemic prevention squad to Palo and Tacloban. The squad carried out an epidemiologic survey of more than 7,000 people and submitted 12 reports of disease analysis and water quality to the World Health Organization and the local health department.

On Dec 9, the ship donated 112 cases of medical goods to the Philippines.

Rear Admiral Shen Hao, commander of the Peace Ark, said the mission improved the friendship between the Chinese and Philippine people. He said the hospital ship was designed and made in China, but also belongs to people all over the world.

"Our humanitarian service is international," Shen said. "I am looking forward to our next cooperation with the Philippines."

Jose R. Llacuna Jr., regional health director of the Philippines health department, said he appreciated the work done by the Chinese ship and medical team.

Dana Van Alphen, advisor for disaster management at the WHO, said she was impressed by the facilities aboard the Chinese hospital ship and also thanked the team for the medical services provided to the local people.

The Peace Ark sailed from Zhejiang's Zhoushan port on Nov 21, carrying 128 medical professionals and world-class equipment. On its previous missions between 2008 and 2013, it provided free medical services to more than 55,000 people in the 16 countries it visited.

The ship is expected to be back in Zhoushan on Dec 15.

Hospital ship Peace Ark anchors in Leyte Gulf after arriving on a disaster relief mission on Nov 24. (photo by Ju Zhenhua/ for China Daily)