It was a wet and cold Sunday afternoon when Elsie VanWyk entered the Kleinskool Sports Complex in South Africa. She had walked a long distance to get here, despite the adverse weather.

She, like many of her peers, had a single focus: "I'm here to get my eyes checked!" said VanWyk.

She was one of the hundreds of people who went to the sports complex turned medical facility. Some of them began at 5 a.m. at the entrance gate, which doesn't open until 8 a.m. U.S. and South African medical professionals provided free treatment in more than a half-dozen tents, and a locker-room building. The Medical Civic Action Program (MEDCAP) provides basic health care; dental care, including hygiene and tooth extractions; and vision evaluations for community members in the Kleinskool area. It began Saturday, July 23, and was scheduled through July 30.

The MEDCAP is part of Shared Accord 2011, a joint exercise between the South African National Defence Forces (SANDF) and the U.S. military. The exercise seeks to develop American and South African humanitarian assistance capabilities in crisis situations. U.S. Marine Corps Forces Africa (MARFORAF), a component of U.S. Africa Command, worked with SANDF to organize the event.

South African naval officer Captain Jaco Theunissen, exercise corporate communications officer, said the local hospitals and municipalities, as well as at clinics, had distributed flyers about the event. The MEDCAP was also written up in the local newspapers.

VanWyk found out about the MEDCAP from a pamphlet at a shop and decided to take advantage of the free health clinic.

She began the treatment process at about 12:30 p.m. by checking in and falling into the queue at the orientation tent.

"It is wet and cold, and people are glad to be here," said Sergeant Anne Marie Coakley, 3rd Medical Battalion group, who greeted and seated each new patient. While handing over a couple of forms to people she told them about the services available: physical, optometry and dental. Everyone who came was also told they would receive multi-vitamins from the pharmacy.

Sergeant Coakley said that most of the people coming to the MEDCAP on that day were seeking optometrical care

After some time it was VanWyk's turn to move to the registry tent. Here she showed her ID and registration personnel recorded the information on the form for the clients.

From here she went to another tent to wait in line to have her vital signs taken.

It was 1:30 p.m. by the time VanWyk was seen by medical technician. The technician recorded VanWyk's blood pressure and pulse; checked glucose and hemoglobin; and tested for hepatitis and HIV (human immunodeficiency virus).

She then went to another tent to find out the results of her hepatitis and HIV tests.

The personnel who gave clients their test results were trained to spend about the same amount of time giving positive or negative news to avoid stigma. For those who needed it, counseling was also available.

Next, VanWyk went to another tent to join other people seeking optometry care. People were peering toward a locker room building, which now housed the optometry clinic, anxiously waiting their turn.

The optometry section, which brought 10,000 glasses, examined an average of 170 patients a day.

"The basic problem here is general visual problems," said Major Carl Boeck, an optometrist. "A lot of people who just need simple reading glasses. We are also seeing a lot of people who are vey near-sighted."

The optometry section, besides handing out glasses, also gave away sunglasses. The nonprescription sunglasses were passed out to prevent eye damage such as cataracts.

One of the most rewarding things about optometry, said Major Carl Boeck, is we actually get to see our results immediately when people put their glasses on.

"Taking care of the people here is so rewarding," said Major Boeck. "It is amazing what they give back to you."

By 3:30 p.m. VanWyk's vision was screened. Moments later her eyes were examined by Major Boeck.

At about 3:45 p.m. she was walking out the make-shift clinic with a pair of glasses and sunglasses.

VanWyk, clutching her new pair of glasses proudly, said the wait was well worth it.

"Now I can go home and be able to read my Bible."