Photo By Capt. Jaime Witt | Maj. Michael Dailey of Sacramento, Calif., a dentist with the 940th Aerospace Medicine...... read more read more
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Story by Army Staff Sgt. Jaime L. Witt
139th Mobile Public Affairs Detachment
MALWELWE, Botswana – Aug. 7 marked the first of four planned humanitarian civilian assistance events, held during Southern Accord 2012. SA12 is a combined, joint exercise, which brings together the Botswana Defense Force with U.S. forces to strengthen their partnership through humanitarian assistance, peacekeeping operations and aeromedical evacuation training.
The HCA events of SA12 focus on providing safe male circumcision, HIV testing and counseling, and dental services to villagers, said BDF Maj. Mooketsi Ditsela, the BDF HIV coordinator.
Maj. Michael Dailey of Sacramento, Calif., a dentist with the 940th Aerospace Medicine Squadron out of Beale Air Force Base, Calif., said the goal of the dental operation was to provide exams, tooth extraction, dental hygiene education and other dental services to the people of the area.
Air Force Lt. Col. Enrique Rosado, an international health specialist dentist from U.S. Air Forces Africa out of Ramstein, Germany, assisted BDF dental therapist, Capt. Kopano Adams Baputaki with dental triage. They determined the needs of the patients as each came through the dental services area and prepared them for procedures.
“It’s great because of the opportunity to exchange knowledge with the BDF,” Rosado said. “It’s a chance for us to work together doing actual patient treatment.”
Prior to the HCA events, the U.S. Forces and BDF shared knowledge through classroom education, on topics such as dental infection control, orthodontic services and maxillofacial trauma.
Baputaki said he values the collaboration with U.S. forces.
“It is a good initiative,” Baputaki said. “It gets us to know what other people are doing in the States. It gives us a chance to interact and share knowledge on medical conditions as well as culture.”
Dailey echoed that sentiment.
“I’m glad to be here to be able to help out and serve the people of the area,” he said. “Hopefully we’ll have a productive day and do some good.”
| Date Taken: | 08.07.2012 |
| Date Posted: | 08.14.2012 04:16 |
| Story ID: | 93163 |
| Location: | MALWELWE, BW |
| Web Views: | 186 |
| Downloads: | 1 |
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