Operation Pacific Angel 11-3 treats nearly 4,000 Indonesian patients in seven days

More than 150 U.S. military members from around U.S. Pacific Command’s area of responsibility gathered in Pekanbaru, Indonesia from Jun. 11 to 18 to execute operation Pacific Angel 11-3 with the 36th Contingency Response Group out of Andersen Air Force Base, Guam in the lead.




Operation Pacific Angel is a joint and combined humanitarian assistance rapid response team (HARRT) operation conducted in the Pacific area of responsibility to support U.S. Pacific Command's civic outreach efforts.
As a result of the operation 3956 people in Pekanbaru, Indonesia received medical treatment.

"This humanitarian outreach operation was a total success," said Lt. Col. Scott Hughes, 36th Medical Group physician.

“These operations enhance U.S. relations with other countries in the region, such as Timor Leste, Indonesia, Mongolia and Cambodia by demonstrating U.S. resolve to promote regional security and humanitarian interests.”

On the final day of the humanitarian service outreach operation, the medical team saw an astonishing 900 patients, and they couldn't have accomplished something like that without a concerted team effort,” said Col. Theodore Corallo, 36th Contingency Response Group commander.

"Our interagency cooperation between international partners, Ministry of Health and the U.S. agencies has been simply amazing," said Capt. Ramon Veglio, 36th Medical Group Administrative Officer.

“This operation served as a prime opportunity to train HARRT personnel. Therefore, we are now better prepared to respond to disaster relief operations in the U.S. Pacific command area of responsibility.”

The first stage of medical care provided during the humanitarian assistance mission was a health and hygiene seminar where all patients learned proper hand-washing techniques then received multi-vitamins.

“Operation PACIFIC ANGEL helps cultivate common bonds and foster goodwill between the United States and other regional nations by conducting multilateral humanitarian and civic assistance operations,” said Maj Nerriza Brooke, 13th Air Force, International Health Specialist.

The HARRT tent had a designated area where people with flu-like symptom could be separated and screened for illnesses and given information on preventing the spread of viruses and disease.

The medical personnel distributed more than $140,000 in medical supplies during the operation. The medicines ranged from prescription medicine to common over-the-counter medicines.

"Providing antibiotics is probably some of the most important prescriptions we have done during this civic outreach effort," said Maj. Ellen Roska, 374th Medical Support Squadron pharmacist.

"Due to the remoteness of some of the villages, the medications' cost and the sub-standard conditions some of these people have been living in, create conditions which make fighting off infection a difficult task. However, bringing in the medicines we have and mitigating some of these conditions early will increase their likelihood of recovery."

The dental hygienists provided 262 dental screenings and performed some minor procedures. Children were also given a preventative dentistry instruction to teach them proper brushing techniques and how to care for their teeth.

Another important aspect of the humanitarian outreach operation was the psychologists who provided four mental health screenings and subject matter expert information exchanges.

“As part of Operation PACIFIC ANGEL 2011, we are committed to supporting each of the host nations’ efforts to bring assistance to their people. The United States, at the invitation of the host nations, will provide support by conducting medical, dental, optometry, veterinary and engineering programs," said Maj. Terry Winnett, critical care nurse, 374th Aerospace Medical Squadron. ”

The next Operation Pacific Angel will be conducted Jul. 18 to 23 in Mongolia.