File:US Navy 060701-N-3532C-032 Navy Hospital Corpsman 3rd Class Ronald Bayaca of San Diego, Calif., entertains a young patient aboard the U.S. Military Sealift Command hospital ship USNS Mercy (T-AH 19).jpg

English: Chittagong, Bangladesh (July 1, 2006) - Navy Hospital Corpsman 3rd Class Ronald Bayaca of San Diego, Calif., entertains a young patient aboard the U.S. Military Sealift Command hospital ship USNS Mercy (T-AH 19). The child is aboard Mercy preparing to undergo cleft lip surgery during Mercy's visit to provide humanitarian and civic assistance to the people of Bangladesh. For the next several days, Mercy's medical crew will work together with Operation Smile to conduct cleft lip and palate surgeries. Mercy is on a five-month deployment to South Asia, Southeast Asia, and the Pacific Islands, having recently completed 24 days of humanitarian assistance to the people of the southern Philippines. The medical crew aboard Mercy will provide general and ophthalmology surgery, basic medical evaluation and treatment, preventive medicine treatment, dental screenings and treatment, optometry screenings, eyewear distribution, public health training and veterinary services as requested by the host nations. Mercy is uniquely capable of supporting medical and humanitarian assistance needs and is configured with special medical equipment and a robust multi-specialized medical team that can provide a range of services ashore as well as aboard the ship. The medical staff is augmented with an assistance crew, many of whom are part of nongovernmental organizations that have significant medical capabilities. U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist Seaman Joseph Caballero. (RELEASED)