Residents of a mountain area in Guihulngan town, Negros Oriental worst hit by a 6.8 magnitude earthquake in 2012 received free medical care from joint Filipino and American soldiers who partnered in undertaking the Operation Pacific Angel -
The earthquake survivors, who have been without medical clinic in their area since the devastating earthquake in February last year, travelled four hours on board a Philippine Army truck to avail of the free medical services offered by Philippines and US military personnel.
The humanitarian medical and civil engineering mission, kicked off last March 4 at five worksites throughout Negros Oriental Province, is comprised of 55 service members from the US Air Force, US Navy and US Marines and the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), as well as a number of local non-government organizations.
Residents from said earthquake-affected as well as from conflict-affected parts in Negros Oriental were given free medical and dental check-up while others received eye glasses.
The Philippine Army’s 3rd Infantry Division spokesman, Maj. Ray C. Tiongson said the many of the patients were malnourished and suffering from illnesses such as goiter, ulcer and blindness
Medical service corps officer from Osan Air Base,
For his part, Pacific Angel-Philippines mission commander from the Hawaii National Guard, Lt. Col. Alvin Alana, said, “Within our resources, we want to care for those who need our help most. These families have lost a lot, and if we can make their life a little better, that is the right thing to do; this is what Pacific Angel is all about.”
AFP 2nd Lt. Ruth Sandra said the medical services offered by the mission is so important for the earthquake survivors that they rode in the military trucks for four hours just to make it to the mission site.
"They are so thankful for the medical treatment," added Sandra, who came to Negros Oriental from a neighboring island to participate in the operation.
The added workload didn't seem to faze the mission whose two medical sites provided primary, dental and optometry care, as well as physical therapy.
"There was always a Filipino doctor working alongside his American counterpart," said medical administrator from Misawa Air Base,
US military personnel noted that the patients who received treatment did not avoid expressing gratitude for the assistance.
"It was amazing how much reading glasses can make someone's day," said Staff Sgt. Dwain Tolvert, an optometry technician from Kadena Air Base,
Local government officials likewise expressed their gratitude to both the AFP and US military personnel for the humanitarian mission,
"We are very honored to have you here in Negros Oriental,” said Negros Oriental Governor Roel R. Degamo. “You are making a difference throughout our province.”
Operation Pacific Angel is a US Pacific Command humanitarian mission that sends primary care, dental, optometry and civil engineer experts to different countries each year to partner with their militaries and NGOs.
The US Pacific Command humanitarian mission undertakes primary care, dental, optometry and civil engineer experts to different countries each year to partner with their military counterparts and local NGOs.
http://www.mb.com.ph/article.php?aid=3046&sid=1&subid=5
Over the past several years there have been a number AFP-NPA encounters in the Guihulngan area. Several outlying communities are contested areas. In the past the main CPP human rights front organization, Karapatan, has conducted "fact-finding" missions in the area in order to discredit the Philippine military by accusing soldiers of committing massive HR abuses in the area. The group has also provided moral and legal support to Maoist insurgents captured by the AFP.
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