APIA, Samoa - (July 07, 2009) Pacific Partnership 2009 team members from New Zealand and the United Stated Public Health Service teach children about the importance of washing their hands at a Medical Civic Action Project (MEDCAP) site held at the Apia Community Center. The U.S. Navy's Pacific Partnership is the dedicated humanitarian and civil assistance mission conducted by, with and through partner nations, non-governmental organizations and other U.S. and international government agencies to execute a variety of humanitarian civic action missions in the Pacific Fleet area of responsibility. This year Pacific Partnership will travel to Oceania, including Kiribati, Republic of the Marshall Islands, Samoa, Solomon Islands and Tonga. The USNS Richard E. Byrd (T-AKE 4) serves as the enabling platform for U.S. and partner nation military and non-governmental organizations to coordinate humanitarian civic assistance efforts. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class (SW/AW) Joshua Valcarcel )