(CPV) - Through Operation Pacific Angel 2012, the US Air Force is partnering with the Vietnam people's armed forces and two non-governmental organizations, Project H.O.P.E. and East Meets West, to offer medical and other services to the residents of Vietnam’s northern coastal province of Nghe An.

During the eight-day engagement that began on June 10, the Xuan Lam medical clinic, near Vinh city, is undergoing a restoration, supplemental medical care is being provided to residents and military and civilian medical professionals are participating in skill exchanges and trainings.

An engineering team comprised of 17 US military civil engineers, five members of the Vietnam people’s armed forces and a Nghe An-based contractor will make structural improvements to the medical clinic, including new tiled exam rooms and other upgrades.

A young boy sits on his mother's lap during an exam at the Xuan Lam primary school.

Down the road from the construction site, at the Xuan Lam primary school, the Health Services Outreach team has set up a temporary treatment facility for local residents. More than 2,600 patients were seen on the first three days of the engagement. The treatments range from optometry care, women's health, dental, family care and pharmaceutical services. The team will also offer two days of free medical treatment at Nam Thanh secondary school.

US and Vietnamese medical providers have the opportunity to conduct presentations highlighting best practices from each country as well as the chance to learn during clinical visits on a number of topics from aviation medicine to oral trauma.

The 4th Military Division Hospital, Vinh Maternal Health Clinic and Vinh Medical University have all provided the medical professionals with the necessary resources to ensure that everyone walks away with a greater understanding of how their counterparts operate.

Officially in its fifth year, Operation Pacific Angel is a joint humanitarian assistance engagement led by the 13th Air Force.

Since 2007, U.S. military members have partnered together with host nation military personnel throughout the region to help improve the lives of tens of thousands of people through Pacific Angel engagements. Previous engagements were conducted in Quang Tri province in September 2009 and Can Tho city in May 2010./.