U.S. Navy Hospital Corpsman Third Class Ariel Janifer interacts with a patient at one of two medical sites in Paita, Peru, as part of SOUTHCOM’s Enduring Promise mission, November 3, 2018. (Photo: U.S. Navy Mass Communication Specialist Third Class Devin Alexondra Lowe)U.S. Southern Command’s (SOUTHCOM) 11-week Enduring Promise mission brings together more than 200 U.S. doctors, nurses, technicians, and personnel from partner nations aboard the hospital Ship USNS Comfort (T-AH 20). The objective of the humanitarian initiative in Latin America is to help alleviate local medical care challenges due in part to an increase in cross-border migrants, and bring support to communities in need. USNS Comfort made its first stop in Esmeraldas, Ecuador, October 22nd-26th. The hospital ship continued on to Paita, Piura department, Peru, where it remained, October 30th-November 5th, before heading out to Colombia and Honduras.