Posted on 02/09/2006 8:46:42 PM PST by SandRat
2/9/2006 - U.S. MILITARY GROUP QUITO, Ecuador (AFPN) -- It was a busy day for the 21st Medical Group -- 1,501 patients seen in eight hours during a medical readiness exercise here.
The constant stream of Ecuadorians moved through the treatment areas like a quiet, but strong steam engine. There was a sense of calm and orderliness as the Ecuadorian Army security team kept the crowds in control, which helped facilitate the number of people seen Feb. 7 in the small village of Otavalo.
U.S. and Ecuadorian Air Force doctors worked side-by-side to treat Ecuadorian patients. In four isolated towns, the team worked daily to offer free medical services. The townspeople worked to bring in Ecuador’s indigenous population from some of the most remote areas of the Imbabura province. The 27-person team of U.S. and Ecuadorian military treated more than 7,000 people in the 10-day exercise that wrapped up Feb. 9.
Outdoor courtyards and rundown schools, some with no electricity or running water, served as temporary clinics. Doctors overcame the austere conditions to provide medical care to hundreds of patients daily. In the towns of Pimampiro, Tumbabiro, Otavalo and Atuntaqui, medics not only treated patients from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., they also set up and tore down the clinic daily.
“Our team never lost momentum; everybody was charged up to get out there and help more and more patients. It was incredible,” said Lt. Col. Karen Kinne, medical readiness exercise, or MEDRETE, commander for the Air Force team.
The townspeople were most appreciative, offering typical gifts from the area to recognize the medical team for their professionalism, caring and dedication in providing care to thousands of their people. City officials from each site invested countless hours promoting the exercise to their residents. Some provided tents, bathrooms and additional security.
“The collaboration with the Ecuadorian Air Force team was very positive. Working with their military was vital to improving the quality of care given to the constant flow of patients. We exchanged valuable experiences, information and techniques that we’ll carry with us well into the future,” Colonel Kinne said.
There were several patients who arrived at the treatment facilities in the late stages of some severe medical problems. Little could be done for them outside of working to get them medical treatment in Quito, Ecuador’s capital. But for thousands more, the team of doctors screened people for eyeglasses, pulled painful teeth, offered prenatal and pediatric care, anti-parasitic treatments and general medicine for the entire family.
“The most exciting part of being here is that we had to improvise so much in diagnosing and treating people. Our experience was very similar to treating mass casualties in an austere environment with little resources,” said Maj. Miguel Medina, flight surgeon and sole team member from Patrick Air Force Base, Fla. “We could never get this type of training at our home stations.”
The local populace stood in line for hours to receive free medical services that they might not have been possible if not for this joint humanitarian effort.
This exercise is a joint effort with the government of Ecuador, working with the U.S. Military Group-Quito, to provide its citizens with the opportunity to receive free medical care.
The U.S. Southern Command medical readiness exercise program conducts these exercises throughout Latin America. They not only provide free medical care, they train with medical personnel from other countries to exchange information, techniques and promote interoperability.
In the last two years, more than 80,000 people and 25,000 animals received free medical treatment because of the partnership between the United States and Ecuador.
Supporting the exercise were dozens of volunteers from Peace Corps, Church of Latter Day Saints and other Ecuadorian foundations providing translation services, health education and supplies.
PING Say AHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!
Hey: Chavez in Venezuela. Look what the US military is doing in your backyard. No fanfare. Just results.
BTTT
awesome article!
What, are we trying to out Castro Castro?
Is this the proper function for the US Military?
My question exactly!
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