MOCORON – U.S. senior military leaders from the U.S. Southern Command (SOUTHCOM) met with Honduran military leaders in Gracias a Dios last week to discuss the situational challenges in the Gracias a Dios region and how the United States can help to build and sustain stability, security, and prosperity in the region.
General Kenneth Tovo, SOUTHCOM’s Military Deputy Commander, and Brigadier General Jose Monteagudo, SOUTHCOM’s Deputy Director of Operations, were welcomed by Colonel Jose Angel Juarez Melendez, commander of the Honduran 5th Infantry Battalion in Mocoron.
The leaders paid a visit to the Puerto Lempira Hospital, including the hyperbaric chamber room, a donation provided by SOUTHCOM. Although the lobster industry is vital to the economy of Puerto Lempira, many lobster divers unfortunately suffer from decompression sickness (DCS), also known as “the bends.” DCS can lead to paralysis and death, but if treated early in a hyperbaric chamber, there is a significantly higher chance of successful recovery.
The donation has proven extremely important to the Puerto Lempira region, and it embodies the U.S. Government’s commitment to bring medical care and humanitarian assistance to Hondurans in need.
