English: Jolo, Philippines (June 7, 2006) - Penny Ching, occupational therapist with the Aloha Medical Mission, a nongovernmental organization aboard the U.S. Military Sealift Command (MSC) Hospital ship USNS Mercy (T-AH 19), teaches classes to patients. Aloha Medical Mission teamed up with the Navy to help provide humanitarian assistance in Mercy’s five-month deployment to host nations in the Pacific Islands, and South and Southeast Asia. Mercy has already visited Zamboanga, Philippines, where its crew had treated several thousand patients in one week. Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron Two Five (HSC-25) is attached to Mercy and will provide medical evacuation for patients as well as a mode of transportation for medical personnel to reach the shore. 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 who 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, foreign militaries and other branches of U.S. military that have significant medical capabilities. U.S. Navy photo by Journalist Seaman Apprentice Mike Leporati (RELEASED)