HOLLOMAN AIR FORCE BASE, N.M. (AFPN) --
Fourteen doctors and technicians from the 49th Medical Group returned June 16 here from a two-week humanitarian assistance exercise where they saw more than 6,800 patients in Bambil Desecho, Ecuador.
"The intent of the Medical Readiness Training Exercise was to provide the Airmen with training in an austere location and the opportunity to treat illnesses not routinely seen in the United States, along with working with the foreign military," said Lt. Col. Madeline Howell, the 49th Medical Operations Squadron commander and MEDRETE commander.
The team consisted of a dentist, a family practice physician, an internal medicine physician, a women's health practitioner, an optometrist, a pediatrician, a pharmacy technician, two medical technicians, a dental-lab technician and a physician's assistant.
While in Bambil Desecho, the team filled more than 17,500 prescriptions for the local people, the team dispensed glasses, pulled teeth, treated fevers and infections and gave routine check ups, Colonel Howell said.
One doctor, Capt. Lee Brock, a 49th MDOS pediatrician, removed an extra finger from a patient.
"This is the first time we did preventative medicine during this type of deployment," Colonel Howell said. The team had a clinic set up and the locals traveled from 17 different villages to get medical attention.
"Seeing the smiles on the patient's faces was very rewarding," said 1st Lt. Montsho Corppetts, a 49th MDG family practice physician. "They were very appreciative of us being there. They waited for hours to be seen."
Before leaving Holloman Air Force Base, the team took donations of supplies, candy, clothes and toys and handed them out to the locals, Colonel Howell said.
"All of the eyeglasses were donated by the Lions Club," said Maj. Don Hamer, a 49th Aeromedical Dental Squadron optometrist. "We gave out more than 500 pairs."
The MEDRETE isn't only in Ecuador, Colonel Howell said. They take place all over the world.
Members of the 49th MDG will probably participate in MEDRETE again, Colonel Howell said. "It is good training for our physicians and a good recruiting tool. It was good to know we could make a difference to a country."
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