The event was also attended by British Ambassador to Vietnam Gareth Ward and Australian Consul General in HCM City Sarah Hooper.

US Consul General in Ho Chi Minh City Marie C. Damour addresses the PP22 launching ceremony in Tuy Hoa city, the south-central coast province of Phu Yen on June 20 evening. (Photo: VNA)

Vietnam is the first destination of the US Military Sealift Command’s hospital ship USNS Mercy in its PP22 mission to many countries, she said, adding that the two countries have spent a lot of time to prepare for it.
She highlighted the Vietnam-US partnership in healthcare, saying Vietnam has provided the US with millions of personal protective equipment (PPE) back in 2020 when the US was struggling to control the COVID-19 spread.
The US has also donated 27 million USD worth of medical supplies, including ventilators and test kits, as well as technical support to help Vietnam contain the virus. It is also the largest donator of COVID-19 vaccines to Vietnam with nearly 40 million doses, she noted.

The presence of the hospital ship USNS Mercy in Phu Yen shows the humanitarian significance of PP22. PP22 is taking place in Phu Yen from June 20 – July 3.
The PP is an annual multinational mission for humanitarian assistance and disaster relief preparedness led by the US Government. It is the largest of its kind in Indo-Pacific.