Exercise Koa Moana Blood Typing Event Leads to Critical Donation

Marines and sailors participating in Exercise Koa Moana 25 partnered with Chuuk State Hospital and Grace International Baptist Church in Micronesia to conduct a community blood typing event earlier this month to educate residents on the public health benefits of knowing their blood type and to encourage lifesaving donations.

Chuuk, one of four states in Micronesia, consists of dozens of islands scattered across the Western Pacific. Health care services are centralized at Chuuk State Hospital on Weno Island, which serves the entire state's population.

While the hospital's medical staff provides critical care, its capacity to store and manage blood supplies is limited by infrastructure and equipment constraints. Every urgent case requires a donor to be identified and tested in real time - a process that can delay treatment when minutes matter.

In the absence of long-term blood storage, building a roster of community members who already know their blood type can be lifesaving. Medical personnel from Koa Moana made the event possible, providing blood typing services, explaining the significance of blood compatibility and starting what could become a sustainable community blood type registry.

"This is about empowering the people of Chuuk to help their families and community fill a critical need," said Navy Lt. Cmdr. Syed Hussain, medical officer for Koa Moana 25. "By knowing their blood type, they'll be able to answer the call to save a life when someone requires an urgent blood donation."

That message quickly became reality. During the event, the medical team learned of a young boy in need of a critical blood donation. Hussain spoke at length with the boy's relatives about the vital role blood donors play in saving lives, emphasizing how an immediate donation could make the difference for their loved one.

The following morning, Chuuk State Hospital contacted Hussain with a request for AB positive blood - a rare blood type found in only about 3% of the global population - for the boy. Having been tested the day before, Marine Corps Capt. Jared Swart, officer in charge of Koa Moana 25, confirmed he was a match and immediately volunteered to donate.

"An opportunity like this is exactly why we prioritize community outreach," Swart said. "We are reminded that it's not just about training and the mission, it's about human connection and doing what we can to have a positive impact on the lives around us."

The event underscored the vital role of collaboration between the local community, Chuuk State Hospital and the Koa Moana team. What began as a simple educational initiative became an immediate, tangible example of how preparedness and partnership can save lives.

By combining medical expertise, local engagement and shared commitment, the blood-typing effort not only addressed an urgent medical need but also laid the groundwork for future health care responses in Chuuk.

Koa Moana is an annual partnership in the Indo-Pacific region that strengthens established relationships, bolsters theater security cooperation, and enhances resilience through community outreach, medical and civic assistance, infrastructure improvement projects and key leader exchanges.