• Military Menu                       

• Introduction
• Systems
• Facilities
• Agencies
• Industry
• Operations
• Countries
• Hot Documents
• News
• Reports
• Policy
• Budget
• Congress
• Links

• WMD
• Intelligence
• Homeland Security
• Space

U.S. military medical team provides care in Honduras

by Tech. Sgt. William Farrow
Joint Task Force-Bravo Public Affairs

3/5/2008 - SOTO CANO AIR BASE, Honduras (AFPN) -- A U.S. military medical team deployed conducted more than 70 free surgeries to Hondurans during a two-week U.S. Southern Command-sponsored medical readiness training exercise Feb. 18 through 29 in Tela, Honduras.

The 12-person joint ophthalmological eye surgery team provided medical assessments and care for children and the elderly Hondurans at the Tela Area Hospital.

"We've treated more than 55 people and more than half of those were under the age of 10 or over the age of 60," said Maj. Paul Miller, a Joint Task Force-Bravo liaison officer. "It's very gratifying for the team to be able to help the children and the elderly because in many cases, the young are getting clear vision for the first time in their lives and the elderly have vision for the first time in years."

Cataract removal in the elderly and the correction of strabismus (crossed eyes) in the young were the most prevalent corrective procedures, Major Miller said.

The experience of performing improvisational medical care is what a team gains most from a medical readiness training exercise, or MEDRETE, said Capt. (Dr.) J.T. Swick, an anesthesiologist from Wilford Hall at Lackland Air Force Base, Texas.

"Their equipment is different and we've had to make do with what we brought with us and what they have available for us, but we've still had to think out of the box and even make repairs to certain equipment," he said. "We've been performing safe, effective surgery without the conveniences of (Wilford Hall)."

The greatest challenge isn't operating in a different environment using unfamiliar equipment or the long hours (12 to 16 hour days), but the team's prognosis has to be perfect so all surgical procedures are completed without complications, he said.

"We're it," Captain Swick said. "If there are complications, we don't have the luxury of having a back-up specialist to call upon, so we have to be extra thorough in our evaluation process."

The Tela MEDRETE is one of four teams operating currently in the Caribbean and Central America area. Managed by SOUTHCOM officials since 1989, the MEDRETE program is one of the premier U.S. engagement efforts in the region, giving American military health care members the opportunity to have a positive impact on thousands of people who may not have had any medical care in years. It is also one of the military's more unique and successful training programs, providing invaluable real-world preparation for troops while reaching out to and working alongside partner nations.