U.S., Vietnam servicemembers continue humanitarian efforts

by Capt. Timothy Lundberg
36th Wing Public Affairs

5/17/2010 - TRUONG THANH, Vietnam (AFNS) -- U.S. and Vietnamese servicemembers continued their humanitarian efforts in villages surrounding Can Tho as part of Operation Pacific Angel 2010 scheduled through May 15 here.

The U.S. and Vietnamese civil engineering teams supporting Pacific Angel 2010 have increased the maximum capacity of two local village clinics here and in Tan Thoi, Vietnam. The CE teams installed lights, repainted walls, installed new ceiling fans, windows and doors at the clinics. Rooms at both clinics received final touch-ups, and site clean-up continues at both sites. Additional masonry and signage was also completed at both sites.

In addition to work being provided by civil engineers here, the U.S. and Vietnamese medical teams provided care for 1,605 patient visits to the pediatrics, family practice, optometry, dental, and women's health clinics respectively. Of the 1,605 patient visits, 474 were at pediatrics, 582 at family practice, 328 at optometry, 126 at dental, 95 to the women's health clinic and 3,500 prescriptions were provided to those patients seen.

Despite the language barriers between U.S. and Vietnamese servicemembers, translators are helping to make the mission a success. The translators are helping to ensure two-way communication between doctor and patient is effectively communicated and patients receive proper care and treatment during their visit.

"We grab meds and we give them to the Vietnamese pharmacists," said Airman 1st Class Hai Nguyen, from Elmendorf Air Force Base, Alaska. "And if they have any questions about any of the (prescriptions) that our doctors write in English, I'll go ahead and translate it for them."

Operation Pacific Angel is a Pacific Air Forces program led by the 13th Air Force at Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam, Hawaii.

The operation is a joint and combined humanitarian assistance operation conducted in the Pacific area in support of the members of the U.S. Pacific Command's capacity-building efforts. It also provides an opportunity for civil and military operators to train together with a focus on civic assistance.