Petty Officer Ramos, a dental technician with the Combined Joint Civil-Military Operations Task Force, recently conducted a community health engagement at Davila Elementary School in Pasuquin, Ilocos Norte, Philippines. The event took place before Exercise Balikatan 24 and aimed to teach oral hygiene to children in the area. During the three-day engagement, Philippine and U.S. service members provided medical and dental evaluations to residents of Ilocos Norte, increasing healthcare access and awareness in the community.
Through events like community health engagements, both military forces work together to support local communities and promote health and education initiatives. Exercise Balikatan 24 is an annual training exercise between the Armed Forces of the Philippines and the U.S. military that aims to strengthen bilateral interoperability, capabilities, trust, and cooperation based on decades of shared experiences. The event at Davila Elementary School showcases the ongoing partnership and cooperation between the two nations through military exercises like Balikatan 24.
The photo in question was taken on April 19, 2024, and shows Petty Officer Ramos demonstrating oral hygiene to children. The event aimed to improve healthcare access and raise awareness of oral health practices among the residents of Ilocos Norte. By engaging with local communities and providing essential services like medical and dental evaluations, the military forces contribute to the overall well-being and health of the residents in the region.
Overall, Exercise Balikatan 24 highlights the importance of collaboration between nations in promoting health and education initiatives while also strengthening bilateral relationships. Through events like community health engagements, both military forces demonstrate their commitment to supporting local communities while also promoting their own interests in maintaining peace and security in the region.
