Lt. Col. Ray Williams extracts an adult molar from a La Bacadia community member Jan. 31, 2011, during the Joint Medical Readiness Training Exercise in Olancho, Honduras. MEDRETEs enhance the medical readiness training of U.S. forces as well as provide sustained health benefits to the population. Williams is the medical element's dentist. (U.S. Air Force photo/Staff Sgt. Bryan Franks)
The Joint Medical Readiness Training Exercise provided dental care to more than 100 patients during the first two days of the MEDRETE and more than 85 patients Jan. 31, 2011, in Olancho, Honduras. MEDRETEs enhance the medical readiness training of U.S. forces as well as provide sustained health benefits to the population. (U.S. Air Force photo/Staff Sgt. Bryan Franks)
by Staff Sgt. Bryan Franks
Joint Task Force-Bravo Public Affairs
2/8/2012 - OLANCHO, Honduras (AFNS) -- Members of the Joint Medical Readiness Training Exercise provided medical services to more than 730 La Bacadia community members here recently, including more than 85 patients seen by the dental team.
The Joint MEDRETE's dental members were responsible for dental assessment and tooth extraction during the event.
"Extracting decayed teeth is an efficient way of providing relief to our patients," said Lt. Col. Ray Williams, the medical element's dentist. "It allows us to get rid of the source of the infection as well as the pain."
For many rural areas of Honduras, dental visits are few and far between, and, as a result, tooth decay is a constant issue within these communities.
"I love the smiles from patients' faces after I'm done," said Staff Sgt. Marchawn Walker, the medical element's dental technician. "I love working with the children -- they bring a smile to my face."
For Walker, this was her second MEDRETE, the first being in Thailand.
"I was mentally prepared for this MEDRETE," Walker said. "I didn't know what to expect the first time in Thailand, but it definitely helped me be a better dental technician for this one now."
While the dental team is typically the last ones to finish each day of the MEDRETE, the members said they wish they could do even more.
"As with being deployed anywhere, you always face the challenges of limited supplies and time, but we are proud of the work we do," Williams said.
"They may have one less tooth, but they don't hurt anymore," Walker continued.
In fiscal 2011, Joint Task Force-Bravo and the Honduran Ministry of Health clinicians provided general medical care to 14,401 patients and dental care to 1,061 patients for a total of 15,462 Hondurans receiving much-needed assistance.
Comments
2/15/2012 7:35:05 AM ET EG your comment is shallow. There is so much more to it than you would probably understand. Nation building cooperation training and so much more. I too am a retiree I too pay for dental. Serving our nation was a choice we both made and no where in our contracts did it say we should get everything in life for free until we die. May I refer you to our Core Values
Tom, Fl
2/10/2012 8:49:29 PM ET Why go to Honduras, many Americans are suffering the same pain due to the lack of access to care. The AF can train in the same austere conditions in many of our urban and rural communities.
John Gunther, Pensacola
2/10/2012 9:06:29 AM ET EG - I was stationed in Honduras for a year and have seen MEDRETES first-hand. These medical readiness exercises provide medical care to people who have NOTHING. Most of them don't even have regular meals much less get any kind of medical care. In addition it provides valuable training in austere conditions for the medical teams who participate which is valuable experience for deployments etc. The gratitude these people show after they've had an abscessed tooth pulled or a painful cavity fixed is incredible which is more than I can say for your complaint.
Former PAO JTF-B, Anywhere USA
2/9/2012 6:23:24 PM ET You can afford it EG. They can't. Have a heart.
PB, US
2/8/2012 3:41:02 PM ET Now that's just WRONG I as a retiree can't get free dental care so why are we giving it to foreigners
