Humanitarian aid provided to more than 1,600 Salvadorans

  • Published
  • By Tech. Sgt. William Farrow
  • Joint Task Force-Bravo Public Affairs Office
COMASAGUA, El Salvador (AFPN) --  An 18-person medical team made up of Airmen and Soldiers spent two days operating a makeshift clinic at an elementary school near Comasagua, El Salvador, May 7 and 8 during Fuerzas Aliadas Humanitarias 2008.

The team, part of the Joint Task Force-Bravo Medical Element at Soto Cano Air Base, Honduras, performed expeditionary-medical care for more than 1,600 Salvadorans.

The regional disaster exercise was sponsored by the U.S. Southern Command and Salvadoran Ministry of Defense, and ends May 15.

The various sections of the clinic included preventative medicine, nurse triage, optometry, dentistry, a pharmacy and health-care providers, said Capt. Jennifer Martinez, the officer in charge of operations at JTF-Bravo's MEDEL.

The MEDRETE was a culmination of efforts by multiple military, governmental and public and private agencies. Partnering together in the exercise were JTF-Bravo's MEDEL, Salvadoran Ministry of Health, Salvadoran army and navy personnel and the Virginia Hospital Center Medical Brigade, a U.S. civilian medical organization that sponsors both annual humanitarian healthcare missions and sustainable healthcare intervention models in the region.

Several families hiked for more than 10 miles to reach the MEDRETE site, local officials said. 

The most common ailments treated by the team were upper-respiratory infections, muscular aches and pains, dermatological issues and diarrhea, said Maj. Paul Miller, a registered nurse with the JTF-Bravo MEDEL. A large number of people also were treated for parasitic infections. 

During the first-day of the MEDRETE a teen girl in a nearby village went into labor and ambulance service wasn't available. The people requested assistance finding transportation to the local hospital for her and MEDRETE officials loaned a vehicle and driver to pick up the girl and take her to the hospital. The baby was born 15 minutes after her arrival there.

"Although we weren't called upon to help medically, it's a great example of our presence helping others in need," Captain Martinez said. "Because the locals knew we were here and that we could come up with a solution, they came to us with a need and we responded; we were in the right spot at the right time." 

"Because of the patient's young age, a C-section is often necessary and it was best for her to go to a hospital," said Dr. Miguel Coello, the MEDEL liaison officer. 

On the second day of the exercise, Doctor Coello made a house call for a patient needing urgent attention. He visited the home of a 43-year-old woman with a debilitating leg ulcer.

"Because of her specific conditions, she wasn't able to get to the MEDRETE, so I took the MEDRETE to her," Doctor Coello said. "If she hadn't been treated, she may have lost her leg."

Although regional MEDRETEs are a staple for the JTF-Bravo MEDEL, Col. (Dr.) Mike Sigmon, the MEDEL commander, said participating in regional disaster exercises improves military and civilian interaction strategically. 

"This MEDRETE is truly a cooperative effort with multi-national military and civilian agencies working side-by-side and it truly shows the ability of the Americas to help each other when needs arise," he said. 

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