Wescom, Guam soldiers’ medical mission benefits 2,000 pax

The Western Command (WESCOM) and the Guam National Guard (GUNG)conducted last November 28 and 28 a free medical and dental civic action in Barangay Sta. Lourdes and Irawan, respectively.At least 2,700 residents of the two barangays (and the nearby barangays) benefited from the medical/dental mission which offered free blood pressure check-up, tooth extraction, circumcision and minor surgical operation.Free medicines were also handed out to patients who went through minor surgery and to those had their tooth extracted.The joint activity was conducted under the State Partnership Program (SPP) between the Philippines and Guam. The SPP paired US states with different countries initially for a bilateral military-to-military contact program which has evolved into a key instrument in facilitating cooperation on civil-military activities between the paired states.Even the incessant downpour of rain on the second day of the activity neither deter the medical team from giving nor the beneficiaries from receiving free medical and dental services.The 8th Marine Battalion Landing Team (MBLT-8) had even provided a service vehicle to fetch people, who couldn’t go to where the activity was being conducted, from a pre-coordinated assembly area.WESCOM said the activity was conducted “with the hope that they may be able to address some of the health concerns of the two beneficiary barangays.”Besides the medical/dental civic action program, the Guam National Guard, headed by MGen Donald J. Goldhorn, Adjutant General, was also in the city to conduct Subject Matter Expert Exchanges (SMEES) with WESCOM soldiers which aimed to improve surgical and medical care techniques of the partner states through collaborative works. By Tristan Ray I. Besa, The Palawan Times