HONOLULU -- A massive U.S. Navy hospital ship left Pearl Harbor Saturday evening.

The ship is en route to the western Pacific on a humanitarian mission to about six countries.

The deployment will put it closer in Asia if the call comes to divert to Myanmar, officials said.

KITV's Catherine Cruz reported that it's been a week since a cyclone ravaged the Asian country of Myanmar.

Very little foreign aid has been allowed in, and concern is growing for the survivors due to the spread of disease.

The U.S. Navy ship Mercy only arrived in Honolulu this week.

In 2004, it was tapped to help in the tsunami disaster in Asia, but on Saturday its crew was preparing to depart on a good will mission.

"This mission will take us to the Philippines, East Timor, Papua New Guinea, and Micronesia," U.S. Navy Commander Capt. William Kearns said.

The Mercy is one of two Navy hospitals held in reserve until needed. Navy "Seabees" accompany the medical staff on board.

The Navy's construction battalion will be called into action for additional support, officials said.

"They will be constructing small clinics and small school houses. We will be doing other work -- refurbishing schools and generally helping out the communities where the people need it," said Aloha Medical Mission Dr. Vernon Ansdell.

Hawaii doctors who volunteer with the AMM will meet the ship in Papua New Guinea to help curb infections and diseases there.

"If by chance this ship does go to Burma, there will be quite a group from Aloha Medical Mission who will try and partner at that point because it's such a great opportunity," Ansdell said.

The Navy said it will be ready to pick up supplies across the Pacific if the ship is called on for disaster relief.

The Mercy will be deployed for about four months before returning to its home base in San Diego.