Servicemembers treat 8,100 patients, livestock in Mali

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman Justin Weaver
  • 31st Fighter Wing Public Affairs
BAMAKO, Mali (AFPN) --  American servicemembers completed the largest annual humanitarian medical exercise in Africa July 26 after two-weeks of intense training and humanitarian assistance in villages throughout Mali.

Airmen from Aviano Air Base, Italy, were among more than 90 servicemembers who deployed for the multinational medical training exercise, called MEDFLAG 08, to enhance medical capabilities and readiness for U.S. and African forces. 

As part of the exercise, medical teams visited four villages, trained more than 160 doctors, medics and nurses, saw more than 4,000 patients, extracted approximately 600 teeth, treated 4,100 goats and sheep and conducted a mass casualty exercise in Mali.

"We exceeded all expectations we had for this exercise and humanitarian mission," said Lt. Col. Troy McGilvra, the MEDFLAG 08 commander who is deployed from the 31st Medical Group at Aviano AB. "I couldn't have asked for a better team to have worked with." 

Throughout the exercise, the medical team focused their efforts in three phases. The first phase consisted of medical training with Mali medics in a variety of subject areas including emergency medicine, triage, stabilization, evacuation and disaster preparedness training.

During the second phase, Mali medics practiced disaster response services in a mass casualty scenario. Using medical make-up and latex injury reproductions, realistic casualties were simulated to test the Malian's medical response personnel.

In the third phase, Malian and U.S. medics provided a wide range of on-site medical services to local communities including basic medical evaluation and treatment, preventive medicine treatment, dental screenings and treatment, optometry screenings, eyewear distribution and public health training. Army veterinarians also vaccinated and dewormed livestock in the surrounding villages. 

Colonel McGilvra said he'd never forget this exercise. During day three of the team's humanitarian visit, one of the women in line for care went into labor and gave birth to a baby girl. In honor of the American team's visit, Colonel McGilvra was asked to name her baby.

"I named the baby Shelly, after my wife," Colonel McGilvra said. "It was overwhelming to have such a great honor given to me."

The American medics consisted of an array of medical specialties from bases in Europe and the United States including surgeons, physicians, dentists, optometrists and public health staff. Bioenvironmental engineering staff, nurses, pharmacy staff, medical technicians and logistics and administrative specialists rounded out the joint service team providing care to thousands of Malians.

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