8,000 folk, 2,000 animals benefit from 2010 RP-US Balikatan medical-veterinary services in Ilocos

By Freddie G. Lazaro

NARVACAN, Ilocos Sur, March 12 – At least 8,000 residents were treated during the 10-day medical civic action program (MEDCAP) under the 2010 RP-US Balikatan exercises in Salcedo and Sinait, Ilocos Sur.

Also included in the treatment provided during the house-to-house visitation included 2,000 livestock owned by farmers that were suffering from various ailments.

MEDCAP started last Feb. 26, 2010 in Barangay Pias, Salcedo and ended in Barangay Quimallogong, Sinait last March 11, 2010, a Thursday through a simple culmination ceremony.

Other beneficiary barangays for MEDCAP were San Jose in Sta. Cruz; and Cabarambanan, Baracbac, Cadangalaan and Teppeng, all in Sinait town.

Col. Eduardo Collado, head of the Joint Civil Military Operation Task Force of the RP-US Balikatan 2010, said that 2010 Balikatan Exercises in Ilocos Sur focused on the delivery of humanitarian services.

"The presence of the U.S. military servicemen in Ilocos Sur was only to deliver humanitarian services," Collado said.

"The humanitarian and civic assistance activities of the RP–US Balikatan 2010 was mainly aimed at revitalizing the interoperability of the Philippines and U.S. military forces in post-conflict response through the conduct of disaster rehabilitation and rural development projects in areas hardly devastated by typhoons and other calamities," he added.

Dr. Maribeth Tudayan, Salcedo town health officer, said, "the RP-US 2010 Balikatan Medical and Dental Mission was very timely as their barangays had just been hit by epidemic.

"This was the first time the locals received quality and branded medicines for their families," she said.

Collado noted that the MEDCAP component of the RP–US Balikatan 2010 in Ilocos Sur was composed of the medical and dental doctors from the Philippine Air Force Team; U.S. Army, Navy and Marines Team and Municipal Medical Health personnel of the host municipality.

They were joined by the locals in rendering free services to the residents.

The fourth year nursing students from the University of Northern Philippines in Vigan City, Ilocos Sur complemented the services needed by the locals.

The veterinary service was delivered through house-to-house visitation to cater to the needs of domestic animals. Under the medical activities, circumcision, pediatric and optometric services were extended.

Free reading glasses were given to the elderly.

Ilocos Sur Governor Deogracias Victor Savellano cited the philantrophic endeavor the RP and US armed forces for the success of the humanitarian services of the RP–US Balikatan in the province.

Meanwhile, the Engineering Civic Action Program (ENCAP) component of the Balikatan exercise in Ilocos Sur started last Feb. 14, 2010 and will end on March 17, 2010.

Among these ENCAP projects included three two-room schools in Barangays Teppeng, Cadanglaan, and Marnay; all in Sinait, two-room school and a flood control facility in Barangay Pias, and a health center in Barangay Baluarte in Salcedo town. (PNA)

FFC/PTR/lvm/FGL/rma

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