Jolo, Philippines (June 7, 2006) - An MH-60S Seahawk helicopter from the Guam-based Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron two Five (HSC-25), Island Knights, departs the U.S. Military Sealift Command (MSC) Hospital ship USNS Mercy (T-AH 19) to pick up patients from the Sulu Provincial Hospital. The patients will be shuttled from the city of Jolo to the hospital ship Mercy for medical treatment during the ship's visit to the Sulu province of the Philippines. Mercy's medical staff will provide 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 the ship itself. Mercy's stop in Jolo is one of many, during its humanitarian deployment to South and Southeast Asia, and the Pacific Islands. 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 Photographer's Mate Edward G. Martens (RELEASED)