Air Force medics still supporting Pakistan relief

  • Published
  • By 1st Lt. Erick Saks
  • 24th Air Expeditionary Group Public Affairs
ISLAMABAD, Pakistan (AFPN) --  As U.S. and international teams continue providing humanitarian and medical aid here, Air Force medics watch over responders, looking out for their health and ability to continue the mission.

Shortly after humanitarian relief operations began in October, the 24th Air Expeditionary Group air transportable clinic stood up at Chaklala Air Base.

The clinics mission: Provide care and preventative medical assistance to those involved in the effort, clinic commander Lt. Col. (Dr.) Vince Santangelo said.

Each clinic members deployed here in the aftermath of the magnitude 7.6 earthquake. Each answered the call for volunteers to support the humanitarian mission in Pakistan.

"They asked me if I'd be interested in a short-notice deployment to Pakistan to help with the relief efforts," said Dr. Santangelo, a flight surgeon who was deployed to Balad Air Base, Iraq. "I saw it as an exciting opportunity to help our troops."

The medical team also includes Master Sgt. Luis Valladares, an independent duty medical technician deployed to Al Udeid AB, Qatar, and Staff Sgt. Bridget Fitzsimmons, a medical technician deployed to Kirkuk AB, Iraq.

"For me, this is an ideal situation because this is exactly what we're trained to do as IDMTs," said Sergeant Valladares. He is from the 52nd Fighter Wing at Spangdahlem AB, Germany. "We're trained to go out in the field and provide medical care independently. So when I heard about the earthquake and the opportunity to come here to help, I said 'Send me.'"

The team faced numerous challenges in Pakistan.

"We're in field conditions, so you have people living in tents in a dusty, dirty and dry environment," Dr. Santangelo said. He is from the New Jersey Guard’s 177th Fighter Wing at Atlantic City International Airport.

"When we arrived, we worked with the preventative medicine personnel to evaluate the camp to see what improvements we could make to ensure the health of the people living here,” the colonel said. “We also opened the clinic, which offers service 24 hours a day to care for people on all shifts."

Most of the clinic's patients have conditions resulting from the environment, he said.

"We've seen a lot of people with upper respiratory infections, sore throats, sinus congestion and headaches," Colonel Santangelo said. "We've also had a few injuries such as a crush injury to the hand of a British military person while moving cargo.”

The colonel said one person suffered a finger injury that was serious enough that he had to be medivaced the next day. Most of the injuries result from troops moving heavy cargo or setting up the camp.

As part of their mission, the colonel and his staff also developed relationships with the Pakistani medics and local medical facility staffs.

"I personally escorted the surgeon general of Pakistan and numerous high-level hospital commanders on a fact-finding mission to the 212th Mobile Army Surgical Hospital in Muzaffarabad -- the epicenter of the earthquake," the colonel said.

He said the visit was “specifically for the purpose of evaluating their capabilities and seeing what the host nation could provide to better care for the local population” that is continuing to arrive at the hospital.

Clinic members said they've enjoyed their experience in Pakistan, and are grateful for the opportunity to help.

"It's really a humbling experience when you take a helicopter flight to the affected areas and you see how these people are living," said Sergeant Fitzsimmons. He is from the New Jersey Guard’s 108th Air Refueling Wing at McGuire Air Force Base, N.J. "It really puts things into perspective."

Colonel Santangelo said the deployment has been incredibly rewarding.

"I really cherish the relationship we've developed with the host nation,” he said. “I know that I can call them anytime -- day or night -- to get help for our personnel."