WESCOM, Guam National Guard to conduct joint medical mission in Puerto Princesa

Puerto Princesa City (19 November) -- Residents of two barangays in Puerto Princesa City will receive free medical and dental services as the Western Command (WESCOM), Armed Force of the Philippines and the Guam National Guard (GUNG) will conduct a joint medical/dental civic action program in Barangay Santa Lourdes on November 27 and in Barangay Irawan on November 28 this year, under the State Partnership Program (SPP) between the Philippines and Guam, USA.
The State Partnership Program, which started in 1993, paired US states with other countries and started as a bilateral military-to-military contact program. It has evolved into a key instrument in facilitating cooperation on civil-military activities between the paired states.
Medical and Dental teams from the Naval Forces West (NFW) of Philippine Navy; the 570th Composite Tactical Wing (CTW) of Philippine Airforce; Camp General Artemio Ricarte Station Hospital (CGARSH) and 1308th Dental Dispensary supported by the 8th Marine Battalion Landing Team (MBLT-8) and 6th Civil Relations Group, CRSAFP in coordination with the local officials will work side by side with the GUNG team to address some of the health concerns of the residents of the two identified barangays.
"We are looking forward to this opportunity to be able to reach out again and extend a helping hand to our fellowmen," Major General Juancho M. Sabban, WESCOM Commander, said of the two-day medical/dental activity.
"Just as we have been in the forefront of keeping our province and this city safe and secure, so too we will be in the frontline of bringing help to the people who are in need," the WESCOM Commander added.
The joint medical and dental mission will start after a short program around 8 o'clock in the morning and will wrap up at four o'clock in the afternoon.
WESCOM has also collaborated with the City Government of Puerto Princesa and other concerned government agencies to make the delivery of free medical and dental services to the said barangays possible.
MGen Donald J. Goldhorn, Adjutant General, will lead the Guam National Guard. Incidentally, the medical and dental mission in the city will be the last SPP activity that the GUNG will undertake this year because MGen Godlhorn will be retiring on December 30, 2010.
Besides conducting a joint medical and dental mission, WESCOM and GUNG medical professionals will also conduct Subject Matter Expert Exchanges (SMEE) activity.
The SMEE aims to improve surgical and medical care techniques of the partner states through collaborative works. It further aims to improve preparedness on health-related eventualities. (PIA)