Medical Group Airmen return from humanitarian mission

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class George Cloutier
  • 9th Reconnaissance Wing Public Affairs
Nine members from the 9th Medical Group recently returned from a medical readiness exercise in Paraguay.

While in Paraguay the members worked alongside security, Paraguayan military doctors and liaison officers, as well as physicians from Andrews Air Force Base, Md., and Vandenberg AFB, Calif. The team visited four villages in the Department of Cordillera, a southern region of the country, to provide humanitarian medical treatment.

“We worked hard, long days,” said Lt. Col. Marc Robins, 9th Medical Operations Squadron chief of aerospace medicine. “At home I’ve never seen people wait in lines to see us for six to 10 hours and come out smiling and appreciative.”

Colonel Robins said the patients they treated were very thankful for the care they received.

“One day we were hungry at lunchtime with no end in sight to the line, so even knowing that these people had been waiting since early that morning we had to tell them, apologetically, that we needed to take a break for lunch,” Colonel Robins said. “My interpreter said not only was it no problem but many were concerned enough to want to make sure we had enough to eat -- coming from those who often hardly have enough themselves. I never heard a complaint or issue from any of the more than 5,500 patients.”

Despite the huge crowds that gathered to see the team, they did what they had to making sure that no one was turned away.

“November 14th was our busiest day, almost double the average of our prior patient loads, in addition to extra procedures and emergencies,” Colonel Robins said. “The massive crowd at the onset was somewhat daunting, yet everyone pitched in with an attitude to get the job done without turning anyone away.”

While overcome the challenge was difficult, everyone knew how important their mission was.

“We were totally exhausted at the end of the day, both U.S. and Paraguayan teams, yet not one complaint on either side was heard. It is impressive how high the team’s spirit and morale remains, and how well the two groups work together,” the colonel said.