File:US Navy 060608-N-9437R-175 Hospital Corpsman 1st Class Tamara Marks plays with several of the children who accompanied their parents to the Medical-Dental Civic Action Project (Med-Den CAP).jpg

English: Jolo, Philippines (June 8, 2006) - Hospital Corpsman 1st Class Tamara Marks plays with several of the children who accompanied their parents to the Medical/Dental Civic Action Project (Med/Den CAP) conducted on board the U.S. Military Sealift Command (MSC) Hospital ship USNS Mercy (T-AH 19). During the six-hour Med/Den CAP, Mercy-embarked medical, dental and preventive health care professionals screened and treated hundreds of local Jolo residents. The San Diego-based Mercy is deployed to South and Southeast Asia and the Pacific Islands area conducting humanitarian missions at the invitation of host nations. Mercy's medical staff provides a multitude of medical, dental and veterinary care for the people who live in this region, together with their Filipino counterparts, both at local city medical centers and on board the ship itself. Mercy's stop in Jolo is one of many, during its humanitarian deployment. Mercy is able to rapidly respond to a range of situations on short notice and is capable of supporting medical and humanitarian assistance needs with special medical equipment and a multi-specialized medical team, providing 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 Chief Journalist Stephen K. Robinson (RELEASED)