Photo By Sgt. Rachel Grothe | Edwina Akana, Ka'u resident smiles after dental treatment at Ka'u High School, during...... read more read more
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KA'U, Hawaii-- Military medical personnel gather their wide range of expertise in the middle of Earth’s largest ocean from as far away as the U.K. and Germany, helping people in the rural areas of the Big Island of Hawaii get the healthcare they need during Tropic Care 2016.
Tropic Care 2016 is a U.S. Army Reserve led, joint services, innovative readiness training program, conducted off of military installations in the civilian community, assisting civilian state, city, and county efforts providing quality healthcare to the underserved rural communities of Kea’au and Puna districs of the island of Hawaii from May 31 to June 11, 2016.
“It’s great to help people in need, especially when you make a connection and they come back a second time because they had a good experience the first time,” said U.S. Army Pfc. Mark A. Jansz, dental assistant, 185th Dental Company Area Support, Garden Grove, Calif.
“I came here last time they had a clinic here,” said Edwina Akana, Ka’u resident, before receiving treatment for a bad toothache. “They helped me a lot. When I saw they were coming back, I walked down from my house.”
“We did two fillings and extracted a broken tooth root in her gum,” said U.S. Army Capt. Jay E. Toth, 1984th U.S. Army Hospital Pacific, Detachment 2, Fort Shafter Flats, Hawaii.
“She was really happy with her first Tropic Care experience two years ago, and looked really happy when she left,” said Jansz.
“It feels good, providing a service that really helps improve quality of life without taking away from their food budget or other family necessities,” said Toth, father of a 9-month old daughter.
These services are good for the community, but also serve the service members performing them. The support services incidentally serve as required training for the service members involved, keeping their skills intact.
“It’s a good learning experience. I don’t do this full time. I work two civilian jobs and I’m going to school full time, working toward becoming a civilian dental hygienist. Capt. Toth was really patient, explaining everything as we went. I learned a lot,” explained Jansz.
| Date Taken: | 05.31.2016 |
| Date Posted: | 06.03.2016 00:29 |
| Story ID: | 199822 |
| Location: | KA'U, HAWAII, US |
| Hometown: | CINCINNATI, OHIO, US |
| Hometown: | HILO, HAWAII, US |
| Hometown: | HONOLULU, HAWAII, US |
| Hometown: | OAKLAND, CALIFORNIA, US |
| Web Views: | 115 |
| Downloads: | 2 |
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