10 photos show what it's like aboard a US Navy floating hospital that is providing medical care to thousands of South Americans
The Navy works with the host nation's health services, coordinating shore-based facilities where the ship's crew will screen patients and provide more basic levels of care
The crew began screening patients in Riohacha, Colombia on November 24, two days before the official opening of its shore-based facility at a local high school.
Some patients are receiving care that they otherwise would not be able to afford.
According to a Reuters report, Colombia has received about one million Venezuelan migrants, which has added strain to an already beleaguered healthcare system.
The crew of the Comfort can provide check-ups and more basic care on land, but patients requiring surgery must be flown via helicopter to the ship.
The ship's crew wait to receive their patients from a UH-60 Black Hawk
While at anchor, the Navy estimates the ship's doctors will perform 20 surgeries per day.
After surgery, the patients will rest before being transported back to shore via helicopter.
Patients are outfitted with helmets and inflatable life preservers before heading out to the ship's flight deck.
Patients load into an MH-60 Sea Hawk to be flown back to shore.
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