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USNS Comfort Closing Ceremony Remarks

Alex M. Azar II
Press Conference
August 25, 2019
Santa Marta, Colombia

I joined Vice President Pence at the launch of this mission for the Comfort, and I can testify personally to how important it is to him and President Trump to come to the aid of our neighbors in this time of need. Each mission of the Comfort is not just a significant undertaking by the U.S. government—it is also a triumph of international humanitarian cooperation.

It is a true honor to be here today, with my Colombian colleagues, to highlight the amazing work being done by the team on the USNS Comfort.

The Comfort is a great symbol of American generosity, and I am especially proud that the department I lead, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, contributed to staffing the ship with members of the U.S. Public Health Service Commissioned Corps.

I joined Vice President Pence at the launch of this mission for the Comfort, and I can testify personally to how important it is to him and President Trump to come to the aid of our neighbors in this time of need.

Each mission of the Comfort is not just a significant undertaking by the U.S. government—it is also a triumph of international humanitarian cooperation.

Hundreds of medical professionals have been staffing the ship and providing care on land and sea.

Indeed, this morning on the Comfort I was able to witness eye surgery on a man who had been blind for years and immediately after surgery could see.

There are representatives from not just the United States, but also Canada, Mexico, Argentina, Brazil, Costa Rica, and Peru.

On the Comfort’s journey throughout the Americas, the U.S. government is working with health and government partners in Central America, South America, and the Caribbean to provide care on the ship and at land-based medical sites.

This is necessary not only because many forcibly displaced Venezuelan refugees are in desperate need of medical attention, but also because many nations’ medical systems have been strained by the arrival of these refugees.

President Trump, Vice President Pence, and I are inspired by the great resolve of the Venezuelan refugees, who are being forced to flee by the Maduro regime for their very survival and the survival of their families.

We also all deeply admire those who are able to stay in Venezuela to fight for change.

Under the current failed regime, Venezuelans face tremendous health challenges, suffering from infectious diseases and chronic, non-communicable diseases that aren’t being treated because the Maduro regime has destroyed the nation’s healthcare system.

But, with close cooperation among our nations, we can do a great deal to help address these health challenges.

Cooperation is key to the work the United States has already done to plan for rebuilding Venezuela’s healthcare system, once democracy returns to the country. When that happens, hospital and laboratory infrastructure and utilities will need to be reestablished, basic supplies and medications will need to be procured, and Venezuelan healthcare professionals who have been forced to flee their country will need to be brought back.

The failed Maduro regime has done tremendous damage to Venezuela’s healthcare system, but the United States and our partners have already started laying the framework for rebuilding.

We’re grateful for the generosity of the Latin American nations, including Colombia, that have welcomed people fleeing from Venezuela.

Colombia has been a strong partner for the United States on so many issues, but we have been especially impressed by their leadership and generosity in providing the health services, social services, and employment that Venezuelan refugees need.

So I’m very glad to be here to recognize the work of President Duque and Minister Uribe, and I look forward to working with him closely at the ministerial meeting he is hosting in Cucuta on Monday.

I want to close by thanking all of the American and international personnel involved in supporting the work of the USNS Comfort, and everyone throughout Colombia and the region who have been helping to respond to the Venezuelan crisis.

We have a mammoth public health and humanitarian challenge in front of us, and there is much work to do.

But everyone involved in this work should be proud of how our nations have responded to this unnecessary tragedy.

We can all eagerly look forward to the day when we turn our attention to helping Venezuelans rebuild their healthcare system and their country.

So thank you again to Colombia for hosting us here, and for the work so many across our region have been doing to respond.

Content created by Speechwriting and Editorial Division 
Content last reviewed on August 25, 2019