U.S., Philippine teams offer free medical care during Balikatan

By Lance Cpl. Abigail M. BrownApril 5, 2011

Helping patients at triage station
1 / 7 Show Caption + Hide Caption – Philippine Army 2nd Lt. Alma Mae Maquido, civil military operations officer, 24th Infantry Battalion, assess a patient at the triage station at the medical civic assistance project held March 31, at the Pundakit Elementary School, Philippines, as par... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL
Keeping teeth bright
2 / 7 Show Caption + Hide Caption – Philippine Army Pfc. Victor Agcaoili, clerk, 24th Infantry Battalion, Zambales, Philippines, assists Air Force Staff Sgt. Jacob Nordwall, triage technician, 673rd Medical Group, Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardon, Alaska, in handing out preventive dental... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL
Dental care during Balikatan helps combined training
3 / 7 Show Caption + Hide Caption – Philippine Army Staff Sgt. Manny Vergara (right), dental technician, assists Lt. Col. Daniel Hash, 807th Medical Command, Fort Douglass, Utah, at the medical civic assistance project held March 31, at the Pundakit Elementary School, Philippines, as p... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL
Taking a look inside
4 / 7 Show Caption + Hide Caption – Air Force Capt. Todd Dean, physician assistant, 932nd Medical Squadron, Scott Air Force Base, Ill., examines a patient’s throat during a medical civic assistance project held March 31, at the Pundakit Elementary School, Philippines, as part of Balika... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL
Seeing to help hearing
5 / 7 Show Caption + Hide Caption – Air Force Capt. Todd Dean, physician assistant, 932nd Medical Squadron, Scott Air Force Base, Ill., examines a patient's ear March 31, during a medical civic assistance project held at the Pundakit Elementary School, Philippines, as part of Balikatan... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL
Medical care produces smiles
6 / 7 Show Caption + Hide Caption – Rona Carduce hugs her daughter Mika while waiting in line during a Balikatan 11 medical civic assistance project held March 31, at Pundakit Elementary School, Philippines, during Balikatan 2011. Balikatan is a bilateral annual exercise between Philip... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL
Taking a close look
7 / 7 Show Caption + Hide Caption – Capt. James Ham, emergency physician with the 130th Engineer Brigade, Schofield Barracks, Hawaii, gets a patient to "open wide" March 31, at a medical civic assistance project held at the Pundakit Elementary School in the Philippines as part of Balik... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL

PUNDAKIT, ZAMBALES, Philippines -- Medical and dental care was provided March 31, at Pundakit Elementary School as part of Balikatan 2011.

Armed Forces of the Philippines and United States servicemembers teamed together to provide free medical services to the local community.

The joint community assistance project conducted at the school, included medical, dental, optometry and minor surgeries. The combined effort of Filipino and American servicemembers, in cooperation with the local town officials, treated about 1,000 residents of Barangay Pundakit.

Standing in line with a smile at the Pundakit Elementary School March 31, during a Balikatan 2011 medical and dental civic assistance project, Rona Carduce looks like any other young mother among the hundreds of local residents of Barangay Pundakit seeking medical assistance.

"I want to make sure she gets a checkup and can get all her immunizations and vitamins," said Carduce. "I think this is a very good thing. My dream for Mika (her daughter) is that she will grow (up) to be a nurse."

Balikatan 2011 is the 27th in a series of combined, joint efforts between the Armed Forces of the Philippines and U.S. servicemembers. The goal of these exercises is to build lasting relationships, train together, and provide assistance in communities where the need is greatest.

Armed Forces of the Philippines and U.S. medical personnel took this opportunity to work together, improve their interoperability and demonstrate their commitment to helping the community.

Related Links:

Balikatan to team US Soldiers with Filipino troops

Army.mil: Asia and Pacific News

STAND-TO!: Balikatan 2011

U.S. Army Pacific on Facebook

U.S. Army Pacific on Flickr

U.S. Army Pacific

Balikatan 2011