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A Philippine soldier unloads some of the $100,000 in donated medical supplies for one of the MEDCAPs.

Located in the southern portion of the Philippines, the 1,200 square kilometer island of Basilan has gone through several dramatic changes over the past few months. When JTF 510 soldiers first arrived on Basilan in February 2002, the island was a safe haven and stronghold for the Abu Sayyaf terrorists. Residents lived in constant fear, and basic services such as health care were not available. Today, Basilan is much different, due largely to the peace and stability brought about through the combined efforts of the AFP and JTF 510. The MEDCAPs of OPERATION SMILES are, in many ways, the capstone of the overall operation.

Services Provided

The MEDCAP in Bunguiao was one of four MEDCAPs conducted in the outskirts of Zamboanga City, on the island of Mindanao, 15 miles north of Basilan. The other MEDCAPs were on the island of Basilan. They provided a variety of services to all who traveled to the MEDCAP sites. After completing the initial registration, each patient’s needs were identified and the patient guided to the appropriate specialist. Those identified with no care needs or health concerns received basic health care information and sundry items. Those identified for further treatment were assessed according to their needs and the medical specialties available at the site.

In Bunguiao, AFP and U.S. doctors provided pediatric care, dental care, minor surgery, optometry services, and medical consultations to 1,200 villagers. AFP dentists pulled teeth under field conditions. Although the facilities were spartan, over 230 teeth were safely pulled that day. Doctors conducted over 260 eye exams and made 26 cataract surgery referrals. In all, the combined MEDCAP team conducted 340 medical consultations for adults and over 400 for the children of Bunguiao.