U.S. Navy and Army personnel, attached to a Humanitarian Civic Assistance (HCA) medical team, provided medical and veterinary assistance to Liberian citizens from April 5-25, 2010, as a part of Africa Partnership Station (APS) West.

The 26-person team worked with the Armed Forces of Liberia, Vets Without Borders, and local non-government organizations (NGOs) to provide care and service to those in need.

The HCA team set up shop at two specific centers: the Bardnersville and Duport Road Health Center, and the Gracie A. Reeves Baptist Community Medical Center. The HCA team worked alongside the clinic staff and the Liberian Animal Welfare Society, and provided care to over 300 patients and 100 animals on a daily basis.

"This project provides a great opportunity to reach out to local Liberians and not only fosters good will and relations between the United States and Liberia, but builds on our previous APS Medical and Veterinary services conducted last September," said Lieutenant John Meeting, APS medical planner and officer in charge.

The APS medical team provided routine medical and dental care, as well as optometry services where patients can have their eyes checked and receive eyeglasses if needed. A biomedical repair and hemodialysis technician was also available to repair broken medical equipment and restore much-needed services.

The veterinary team, consisting of U.S. Army vets and volunteers from Vets Without Borders, provided rabies vaccinations and overall care for animals. They also worked closely with the Liberian Ministry of Agriculture and the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) to improve veterinary laboratory and food protection services within the country.

"It's really great to be part of something like this because the need here is so great," said Lieutenant Paul Mayo, a Navy optometrist. "It is very rewarding to diagnosis and treat preventable blindness early in a patient that might not otherwise receive this care."

"This is a good program for forging relationships between the U.S. and Liberia," said Liberian Army Private 1st Class Clonlakhar Klede, a medic attached to the HCA team. "I appreciate the opportunity to train and learn with the U.S. military."

"APS is all about building relationships," said Meeting. "This is a two-way learning experience, they learn from us and we learn from them."
APS West is an international initiative developed by Naval Forces Africa, the sea component of U.S. Africa Command (AFRICOM), to improve maritime safety and security in West and Central Africa.