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Combined Joint Task Force - Horn of Africa Image
A Djiboutian woman awaits care during a dental civic action program mission in Ali Sabieh, Djibouti, Feb. 10, 2016. The DENTCAP was conducted by the 403rd Civil Affairs Battalion, which is currently deployed in support of Combined Joint Task Force-Horn of Africa. (U.S. Air Force photo by Tech. Sgt. Daniel R. DeCook)
Photo by: TSgt Dan DeCook
Photo 2 of 15
Combined Joint Task Force - Horn of Africa Image
Members of the 403rd Civil Affairs Battalion begin prep work on a mobile dental station in Ali Sabieh, Djibouti, Feb. 10, 2016. The 403rd CA BN, deployed in support of Combined Joint Task Force-Horn of Africa, worked alongside Djibouti Ministry of Health personnel to provide dental care to villagers. (U.S. Air Force photo by Tech. Sgt. Dan DeCook)
Photo by: TSgt Dan DeCook
Photo 3 of 15
Combined Joint Task Force - Horn of Africa Image
Tools and local anesthetic are prepared for use during a dental civic action program mission in Ali Sabieh, Djibouti, Feb. 10, 2016. The 403rd Civil Affairs Battalion, deployed in support of Combined Joint Task Force-Horn of Africa, worked alongside Djibouti Ministry of Health personnel to provide dental care to villagers. (U.S. Air Force photo by Tech. Sgt. Dan DeCook)
Photo by: TSgt Dan DeCook
Photo 4 of 15
Combined Joint Task Force - Horn of Africa Image
Capt. Bryan Hays, 403rd Civil Affair Battalion Dental Cell Officer in Charge, examines the teeth of a Djiboutian child in Ali Sabieh, Djibouti, Feb. 10, 2016. The dental civic action program was part of U.S. Africa Command’s humanitarian civil assistance program, which aims to provide emergency dental procedures as well as basic extractions and dental education. (U.S. Air Force photo by Tech. Sgt. Dan DeCook)
Photo by: TSgt Dan DeCook
Photo 5 of 15
Combined Joint Task Force - Horn of Africa Image
A Djiboutian boy is comforted by his father after having a tooth removed during a dental civic action program mission in Ali Sabieh, Djibouti, Feb. 10, 2016. The DENTCAP was conducted by the 403rd Civil Affairs Battalion, which is deployed in support of Combined Joint Task Force-Horn of Africa. (U.S. Air Force photo by Tech. Sgt. Daniel R. DeCook)
Photo by: TSgt Dan DeCook
Photo 6 of 15
Combined Joint Task Force - Horn of Africa Image
A tooth removed during a dental civic action program mission lays on a table in Ali Sabieh, Djibouti, Feb. 10, 2016. Members of the Djibouti Ministry of Health and the 403 CA BN removed more than 50 infected teeth during two days of dental assistance to the local villagers. (U.S. Air Force photo by Tech. Sgt. Dan DeCook)
Photo by: TSgt Dan DeCook
Photo 7 of 15
Combined Joint Task Force - Horn of Africa Image
Capt. Bryan Hays, 403rd Civil Affair Battalion Dental Cell Officer in Charge, and Staff Sgt. Nakisha Susberry, 403rd CA BN Dental Cell NCO in charge, work on extracting a tooth during a dental civic action program mission in Ali Sabieh, Djibouti, Feb. 10, 2016. Members of the Djibouti Ministry of Health and the 403 CA BN provided more than 10 hours of dental assistance to the local villagers. (U.S. Air Force photo by Tech. Sgt. Dan DeCook)
Photo by: TSgt Dan DeCook
Photo 8 of 15
Combined Joint Task Force - Horn of Africa Image
Capt. Bryan Hays, 403rd Civil Affairs Battalion Dental Cell Office in Charge, inspects the molar of a local woman in Ali Sabieh, Djibouti, Feb. 10, 2016. Members of the Djibouti Ministry of Health and the 403 CA BN provided more than 10 hours of dental assistance to the local villagers. (U.S. Air Force photo by Tech. Sgt. Dan DeCook)
Photo by: TSgt Dan DeCook
Photo 9 of 15
Combined Joint Task Force - Horn of Africa Image
Capt. Bryan Hays, 403rd Civil Affair Battalion Dental Cell Officer in Charge, and Staff Sgt. Nakisha Susberry, 403rd CA BN Dental Cell NCO in charge, work on extracting a tooth during a dental civic action program mission in Ali Sabieh, Djibouti, Feb. 10, 2016. Members of the Djibouti Ministry of Health and the 403 CA BN removed more than 50 infected teeth during two days of dental assistance to the local villagers. (U.S. Air Force photo by Tech. Sgt. Dan DeCook)
Photo by: TSgt Dan DeCook
Photo 10 of 15
Combined Joint Task Force - Horn of Africa Image
Capt. Bryan Hays, 403rd Civil Affair Battalion Dental Cell Officer in Charge, rinses a tool during a dental civic action program mission in Ali Sabieh, Djibouti, Feb. 10, 2016. Hays saw more than 45 patients and removed 38 teeth in just over seven hours. (U.S. Air Force photo by Tech. Sgt. Dan DeCook)
Photo by: TSgt Dan DeCook
Photo 11 of 15
Combined Joint Task Force - Horn of Africa Image
Capt. Bryan Hays, 403rd Civil Affair Battalion Dental Cell Officer in Charge, and Staff Sgt. Nakisha Susberry, 403rd CA BN Dental Cell NCO in charge, begin their examination of a patient during a dental civic action program mission in Ali Sabieh, Djibouti, Feb. 10, 2016. The dental civic affairs program part of U.S. Africa Command’s humanitarian civil assistance program, which aims to provide emergency dental procedures as well as basic extractions and dental education. (U.S. Air Force photo by Tech. Sgt. Dan DeCook)
Photo by: TSgt Dan DeCook
Photo 12 of 15
Combined Joint Task Force - Horn of Africa Image
Capt. Bryan Hays, 403rd Civil Affair Battalion Dental Cell Officer in Charge, takes a moment to rest during a dental civic action program mission in Ali Sabieh, Djibouti, Feb. 10, 2016. Hays saw more than 45 patients and removed 38 teeth in seven hours. (U.S. Air Force photo by Tech. Sgt. Dan DeCook)
Photo by: TSgt Dan DeCook
Photo 13 of 15
Combined Joint Task Force - Horn of Africa Image
Col. Mitch Meyers, Preventive Medicine Officer, gives a class on the proper techniques for brushing, flossing and rinsing during a dental civic action program mission in Ali Sabieh, Djibouti, Feb. 10, 2016. The DENTCAP, funded by U.S. Africa Command’s humanitarian civil assistance program, spent two days providing dental care and education to the Ali Sabieh residents. (U.S. Air Force photo by Tech. Sgt. Dan DeCook)
Photo by: TSgt Dan DeCook
Photo 14 of 15
Combined Joint Task Force - Horn of Africa Image
Col. Mitch Meyers, Preventive Medicine Officer, shows a group of Djiboutian children proper flossing techniques during a dental civic action program mission in Ali Sabieh, Djibouti, Feb. 10, 2016. Without the DENTCAP provided via U.S. Africa Command’s humanitarian civil assistance program, the residents of Ali Sabieh may go years without dental care. (U.S. Air Force photo by Tech. Sgt. Dan DeCook)
Photo by: TSgt Dan DeCook
Photo 15 of 15
Combined Joint Task Force - Horn of Africa Image
Col. Mitch Meyers, Preventive Medicine Officer, gives a class on the proper techniques for brushing, flossing and rinsing during a dental civic action program mission in Ali Sabieh, Djibouti, Feb. 10, 2016. The DENTCAP, funded by U.S. Africa Command’s humanitarian civil assistance program, spent two days providing dental care and education to the Ali Sabieh residents. (U.S. Air Force photo by Tech. Sgt. Dan DeCook)
Photo by: TSgt Dan DeCook
The 403rd Civil Affairs Battalion, deployed in support of Combined Joint Task Force-Horn of Africa, worked alongside Djibouti Ministry of Health personnel to provide dental care to villagers and share dental education in Ali Sabieh, Djibouti,
Feb. 9-10, 2016.
Funded by U.S. Africa Command’s humanitarian civil assistance program, the dental civic action program(DENTCAP), aims to provide emergency dental procedures, basic extractions and dental education.
Capt. Bryan Hays, 403rd CA BA Dental Cell Officer in Charge, and Staff Sgt. Nakisha Susberry, 403rd CA BN Dental Cell NCO in charge, saw more than 45 patients, treating everything from minor tooth pain to severe infection.
Without the DENTCAP team, many of the residents of Ali Sabieh may never receive dental care.
“We really appreciate the American team who came here to make everything we need here easier. It was good for them to be here; we needed the help,” said Abdirahman Guelleh, Djibouti Ministry of Health.
The team spent 10 hours treating patients, extracting more than 50 teeth. They also understood the need to educate the children of the community on oral hygiene.
As local children gathered around an oversized denture model, Col. Mitch Meyers, Preventive Medicine Officer, gave a class on the proper techniques for brushing, flossing and rinsing.
“Whether it’s here or Soldiers back home, without proper oral hygiene you run a high risk for dental infections,” said Hays. “Many of our patients came in with severe pain, and we believe that educating them on proper preventative measures can help in the future.”
The long day of work not only provided the community an opportunity to receive critical dental care and education, it also gave the civil affairs team a strong sense of accomplishment.
“For me it’s been great just to see this environment and to work with the people of Djibouti,” said Hays. “I’m pretty beat, my back is worn out, but I am so pleased with what we did here. It’s very fulfilling to know we did a lot of good for this community.”
