Press Releases 2008
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Medical Readiness Training Exercise in Santa Rosa |
California Air National Guard Brings Medical Relief to Guatemalan Citizens
Guatemala, August 21 2008
Fanfare met 31 members of the California Air National Guard’s 163d Reconnaissance Wing and 163d Medical Group when they arrived in Santa Rosa, Guatemala, Aug. 18 to provide medical care for citizens living in the city’s nearby impoverished communities.
Hosted by Guatemala, and with the cooperation of the Guatemalan military and public health department, the team, consisting of medical personnel, translators and assistants traveled to the Central American country to conduct a humanitarian mission sponsored by U.S. Southern Command and U.S. Air Forces South known as a Medical Readiness Training Exercise, or MEDRETE.
When the team arrived at Aldea Estanzuelas, near Santa Rosa, the first of its three sites scheduled over the two-week visit, hundreds of Guatemalan citizens were already in line waiting to see the American medical providers who would treat their various ailments.
The first order of the day, though, was a welcome ceremony hosted by the Guatemalan Army. During the ceremony, both U.S. and Guatemalan military personnel gathered in formation while a Guatemalan honor guard presented the colors of both nations for the playing of each country’s national anthem. Following the presentation of the colors, Col. Jose Oscar Sandoval Salguera, commander of the Army’s 3rd Infantry Brigade, said he was pleased that the United States sent the medical team and enjoyed the partnership between the U.S. and Guatemala for the benefit of his country’s citizens.
Dr. (Col.) Vincent Dang, 163d Medical Group commander, said he too looked forward to working with his Guatemalan counterparts in order to help those citizens who need the medical care.
“As a doctor, the well-being of my patients is my top priority,” Colonel Dang said. “For the next nine days, my team and I will work hard to ensure we provide the best medical care we can for the citizens of the communities we will visit.”
Once the ceremony ended, though, work for the team began as more than 500 local citizens visited various makeshift clinics set up at a local school. Personnel from the unit established a triage center in the town’s general meeting building to evaluate those needing treatment and to ensure they were seen by the appropriate medical provider. The team also established a dental clinic, led by Dr. (Lt. Col.) Philip Bales of the Oregon Air National Guard’s 173d Medical Group, a public health center to distribute information regarding preventative health-related issues, as well as general practice and optometry clinics and a pharmacy. Additionally, Dr. (Col.) David Walton, California Air National Guard state air surgeon, traveled with the group and established a women’s clinic.
Throughout the day, providers treated citizens ranging from a few months old to more than 80-years-old. And no matter which citizen was talked to, if asked how they felt about having American medical personnel treating them and their family members, the response was the same – they were glad to have the medics helping them.
“It’s very good that [the American doctors] have come to help,” said Neli Gonzalez, who brought her 7-year-old son to get medical care. “I really liked the doctor.”
Similarly, Rosa Juarez, who brought her 9-month-old infant and 6-year-old daughter to see the doctors in order to get treatment for the children’s coughs and fevers, said she was glad to see the doctors, adding she received a lot of attention from them.
By the end of the first day, the team saw 515 patients, most of whom visited the personnel in as many as three clinics in addition to receiving medications from the on-site pharmacy – something Doctor Dang says made the day an overwhelming success.
“Being the first day it was challenging for us as we got settled in,” Doctor Dang said. “But, we quickly developed a routine and were able to treat a lot of people in a short amount of time, which is what we set out to do.”
It was a team effort throughout the operation,” Doctor Dang continued. “The Guatemalan military provided security for our folks while the Guatemalan Department of Public Health ensured we had providers from the country augmenting our team. But it was the Airmen from the 163d Reconnaissance Wing, serving as liaisons and translators, and 163d Medical Group who ensured the first day was successful. I really think we made a difference for the people of this community and I am looking forward to similar results as we move to the other sites throughout our time here.”
The team spent Aug. 18-20 in Aldea Estanzuelas, and will travel to Aldea Las Cabezas Aug. 21-24 before heading to Santa Maria de Ixhuatan for the last three days of the medical mission, which is scheduled to end Aug. 28. The team expects to provide treatment to more than 5,000 citizens during the visits.