LEGAZPI CITY, Philippines – Leaders of the local community, Armed Forces of the Philippines, and U.S. armed forces held a medical supply turnover ceremony May 5 in Bigaa, Albay province, Philippines
The medical supplies brought a needed boost to the ability of the health center to support and provide the necessary aid to members of the Bigaa community, according to U.S. Marine Maj. Grace Janosek.
“The health center was donated and opened in September 2013,” said Janosek, a civil affairs team leader with civil affairs detachment, G3, III Marine Expeditionary Force. “Medical supplies were still needed, and that’s why we’re here today.”
The donation will provide the health center with the ability to treat a large portion of health concerns as the supplies consisted of medical necessities and equipment from wheelchairs and examination tables to gauze and basic wraps.
“We were able to bring in a large amount of supplies that will cover most of the treatments the community might require,” said U.S. Marine Cpl. Jordan Yearsly, a civil affairs specialist with civil affairs detachment, G3, III Marine Expeditionary Force. “We brought in 500 hygiene packs, one scale, three bassinets, 60 needle containers and two wheel chairs. It’s great seeing all of this being put to a good use.”
In addition to the leaders of Bigaa, the AFP, and U.S. armed forces, members of the local community came to the ceremony to express their gratitude and witness the turnover at the center.
“We are all very thankful for the equipment being given to us,” said Perla Afaytono, a health worker in Bigaa. “We’re fortunate that our barangay was chosen to receive medical assistance. The people here are all very happy to be able to receive this care.”
The ceremony concluded with U.S. Marine Maj. Jason Johnson, deputy commander for the Joint Civil Military Operations Task Force, U.S. armed forces, handing a hygiene pack to Vittorio Roces, the acting mayor of Legazpi City, as a symbolic passing of the donated supplies.
“It’s an honor to receive this assistance in Legazpi City,” said Roces. “On behalf of the Honorable Governor Joey Salceda, we all thank the U.S. armed forces for their humanitarian assistance and continued work in the Philippines.”