'Better service for longer'

Alejandro Cuba had traveled from Alangalang, 39 kilometers from Tacoloban. He needed surgery on his broken left arm, but when he arrived at the hospital, he discovered thousands of people there, all waiting to be tended to.

"I lost my job because of the typhoon, and I'll never find a new one with a broken arm. I have a wife and two children to feed. What can I do?" asked the 44-year-old construction worker, who was later transferred to the Peace Ark for surgery on his arm.

Cuba's wife, Mannylyn, was at his side. "They let us stay in the sickroom and gave us food and water every day. The doctor said my husband's arm will be fine soon and we can start life all over again," she said.

With eight operating rooms staffed by elite medical professionals, the Peace Ark can provide a multitude of medical services, ranging from the basic to the advanced, according to Sun Tao, vice-director of the PLA Navy General Hospital. To help the patients receive treatment even after the ship has left the area, each will be issued with identity cards that will carry details of their medical records.

"The ship is also able to provide other relief services, including the provision of food and water and air-conditioned shelters," said Sun, adding that medical teams had been sent from house to house to assess injuries and treat the injured.

"As the headquarters, the ship also is a base for supplies and gives our medical staff a safe, clean place to rest," he said. "It enables us to provide a better service for longer."

Vincent Gomez, a member of a local hospital's board of trustees, was impressed by the ship's facilities. "What I really care about is the capability of the temporary hospital set up by the Chinese medical staff, and how much longer the Peace Ark will stay," he said.

To ensure the Peace Ark provides help where it's most needed, the ship's commander, Shen Hao, said he welcomed input from the local authority, medical professionals and the media.

"With regard to our schedule, there is no time limit on our mission, and we will fully respect any decisions made by the Philippine side about our involvement," he said. "But no matter how long we stay, the bonds of friendship forged between the people of China and the Philippines will endure for a long time."

Contact the writer at pengyining@chinadaily.com.cn

Ju Zhenhua contributed to the story