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Reservists take medical care to Guatemalans

  • Published
  • By Master Sgt. Chance Babin
  • 920th Rescue Wing Public Affairs
SAN MARCOS, Guatemala --  Journeying as much as 10,000 feet above sea level, a group of 31 Air Force Reserve Command medics brought a wealth of medical knowledge to the mountainous region of San Marcos as part of New Horizons 07, April 14-28.

New Horizons is a joint chiefs of staff-approved, U.S. Southern Command-sponsored joint engineer and medical humanitarian and civic assistance exercise conducted annually in Central and South America. The exercise often involves reservists and National Guardsmen from the U.S. Army, Navy and Air Force.

The purpose of the exercise is to improve joint training readiness of U.S. engineer and medical units while improving the infrastructure of the visited country. This year's exercise in Guatemala focused on constructing clinics and water wells, as well as conducting medical readiness training exercises.

The MEDRETE team visited three different locations during the two-week deployment. The team worked out of local schools in the towns of Mavil, San Pedro and San Antonio Serchil.

Maj. Melissa Triche, a medical planner for Air Force Reserve Command International Health Specialist Program coordinated this mission.

"We purchased $50,000 in medications for this mission and have exhausted our supplies due to the volume of patients that have come to receive free medical care." Major Triche said. "This mission is a win-win for everyone. Not only is the local population receiving much-needed medical care, but our physicians are fine-tuning their clinical skills in an austere environment."

For the medical team members, the mission was not only a great training opportunity but a chance to immerse themselves in a foreign culture.

"It was a great experience," said Staff Sgt. John Gillespie, a medical technician with the 445th Aerospace Medicine Squadron, Wright Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio. "You realize how lucky you are and how we take for granted everything we have back in the States."

One of the big challenges was communicating with the patients, who mostly spoke Spanish.

"At first it was challenging dealing with patients and learning to communicate with them," Sergeant Gillespie said. "Pain and sickness are universal. After a few words you can tell what's going on with them and get them the care they need."

For the group's commander on this mission, language was not a problem. Lt. Col. (Dr.) Roberto Caro, 445th AMDS flight surgeon and a native of Puerto Rico, was not only able to communicate effectively with the patients but able to assist the group in dealing with the Guatemalan military and medical personnel.

"Being bilingual has helped tremendously," Dr. Caro said. "I can relate to the patients, and they can relate to me. I think patients open up more to me because they aren't going through a third person."

Second Capt. (Dr.) Berner Stuardo Vivar Rivera, a doctor with the Guatemalan army, had the opportunity to work alongside the reservists throughout the MEDRETE mission.

"I want to express my gratitude to the group," Dr. Vivar said. "I've seen the unselfishness of everyone giving their knowledge and expertise in helping my people here without discrimination."

Dr. Vivar worked side-by-side with the Air Force Reserve physicians treating patients as well as providing consultations when the American physicians had questions.

"The support Dr. Vivar provided was a great asset," Dr. Caro said. "He was able to explain customs and local remedies. It's been a fantastic exchange of medical knowledge. We both learned from each other."

The 11 general medicine physicians encountered more than 5,800 patients on the two-week tour, treating parasites, gastritis, muscular skeletal pain, diarrhea, upper respiratory infections and a broad range of other medical problems.

For some medics this was their first deployment outside the United States, as well as their first humanitarian mission.

"It's harder than I expected - more physically demanding than anything I normally do," said Maj. (Dr.) Joan Salido, a dentist with the 445th AMDS. "The condition of the children's teeth was bothersome because it's such an easily prevented disease. It's just disheartening at times, but it's also rewarding to know you're helping them to get on a better road to health."

The four-person dental team saw an average of 67 patients each day and extracted more than 1,100 teeth.

The optometry section was led by Lt. Col. (Dr.) Clifton Poling, an optometrist from the 445th AMDS.

"It's evident that the high altitude is hard on the eyes," Dr. Poling said. "The area gets more ultraviolet damage and cataracts. It's a combination of not being taken care of because healthcare isn't readily available or is beyond their reach."

A nationally known civic organization donated 2,500 eyeglasses for this mission.

"I saw an 86-year-old patient who had cataract surgery several years ago. The lens in her eye was removed and never replaced," Dr. Poling said. "We were able to give her some plus-10 lenses, and she could see. She just sat there and smiled."

The three-person optometry team screened more than 1,600 patients and fitted about 750 of them with prescription eyeglasses.

While most of the team consisted of medics from the 445th AMDS, a handful of specialist filled in to complete the team.

"I had volunteered for another mission and told them I spoke Spanish," said Lt. Col. (Dr.) Frank Archer, a physician with Air Force Reserve Command's 419th Medical Squadron, Hill AFB, Utah.

"When they saw that I spoke Spanish, they called on me."

"The International Health Specialist program is always looking for Air Force Reserve medics who are fluent in a second language," Major Triche said. "When we have humanitarian missions like this one, we turn to our database to fill certain medical specialties with that language skill. Dr. Archer is a great example of this."

In addition to the four Spanish speaking medics on the team, the mission was supplemented by 28 local students from San Carlos College.

"The interpreters did a fantastic job," Dr. Caro said. "I don't think we could have done this great a job without them."

The team was also assisted by U.S. Army National Guard military police, Army Signal Corps and the Guatemalan military.

"Together with the Guatemalan medical team, we had over 8,000 patient encounters," said Major Triche. "Not only did we cultivate relationships with our Guatemalan medical counterparts, we are supported the U.S. national strategy." (Air Force Reserve Command News Service)