Guatemala trip leaves Guardsmen 'awestruck'

  • Published
  • By Capt. Al Bosco
  • 163d RW Public Affairs
MARCH AIR RESERVE BASE, CALIF. --  Air National Guard's 163d Medical Group returned to March ARB recently from Santa Rosa, Guatemala, after completing a Medical Readiness Training Exercise. 

Spending nine days in three of Santa Rosa's poorest communities, the 31-member team worked tirelessly providing medical care to more than 5,700 Guatemalans. The team, working in conjunction with the Guatemalan military and Departments of Health and Education, and operating from local schools in the remote areas, established several small makeshift clinics from which the local citizens could receive medical care for a variety of ailments. 

The team spent its first three days in the mountain community of Aldea Estanzuela. While there, the members treated about two thirds of the population seeing an average of 500 patients each day in one or more of the makeshift clinics established at a local school. The next stop was Santa Maria de Ixhuatan, where hundreds of Guatemalans awaited the group's arrival each day. In fact, in some cases, people traveled for hours and were in line as early as 3 a.m. to see the American medics. The group finished in Ixhuatan, seeing about 1,800 citizens before traveling to Aldea Las Cabezas for the last portion of the visit, which ended Aug. 28. 

Throughout the nearly two week mission, the medical group cared for young and old alike, treating a variety of ailments ranging from rashes and other skin conditions to more serious maladies such as intestinal parasites and scarlet fever. Additionally, several specialists, including an optometrist, dentist and gynecologist, were among the group to provide specialized care. In fact, the specialists were not only a welcome addition to the team, in several instances, they were necessary. 

Having specialties such as this proved beneficial and may have even resulted in saving a life, according to Col. (Dr.) David Walton, the California Air National Guard's state air surgeon who established a women's health clinic at the various sites. 

"At one of the sites we saw a young woman who knew she was pregnant and indicated she planned to give birth at home," said Col. Walton. "We had a portable ultrasound machine designed for battlefield use, and using the ultrasound we discovered she was actually carrying twins. I immediately advised her to seek ongoing prenatal care and to deliver at a hospital rather than at home because there is a very good possibility that a home birth could have gone badly wrong for one of the twins. She was incredibly grateful for the input we provided on her pregnancy care" 

Another specialist included the group's own optometrist, Lt. Col. Ron Short, who provided eye exams and distributed more than 1,200 pairs of glasses. 

"It was amazing," said Col. Short. "Some of the people we examined had extremely poor vision and had not seen in decades. We did the best we could and got them glasses that corrected their vision and the smiles on their faces said it all." 

As word spread at each site of the American medics' arrival, the citizens became so eager to receive treatment for their illnesses that lines formed at the sites as early as 3 a.m. with as many as 800 people waiting for the team each day. 

"We heard stories of people who actually hitchhiked from hundreds of miles away to see us," recalled Chief Master Sgt. Carol Barone, 163d Medical Group Medical Services manager. "When we arrived and saw all the people waiting, we knew we had our work cut out for us, but we were all motivated and ready to do whatever we could to help." 

And the group was well received by the communities as members received countless hugs from patients thanking them for their time and effort in caring for them. But while the group bonded with the citizens during the exercise, a bond also grew between the Airmen and their Guatemalan colleagues. In fact, often one could find a Guatemalan soldier working alongside an Airman, or sharing stories about our two countries and cultures. 

"It was a good experience to have worked along side the Guatemalan army and with the people of Guatemala," said Tech. Sgt. Rosa Puente, 163d MDG medical technician. "They were very kind, respectful and grateful that we were there. It was a great learning experience overall, and the people were very happy to have the opportunity to be seen by an American doctor" 

Sergeant Puente added although the mission was rewarding she wished the group could have done more for the people. 

"I wished that we could have had everything needed to make them better and that we had been able to treat [everyone]," she said. "It was difficult knowing we couldn't see everyone and knowing that many had come from so far away to see us." 

Despite not being able to treat everyone, the team still managed to amass some impressive statistics treating about 2,000 people in each community and providing more than 6,000 prescriptions. In fact, according to Col. (Dr.) Vincent Dang, 163d Medical Group commander, the mission was a huge success and was well-received by the military and local community leaders alike. 

"It was awe-inspiring to arrive at a site where several hundred people were waiting for us," Col. Dang said. "But we knew we had a job to do and everyone on the team performed with the highest level of professionalism so we could bring these people the best care possible. The team certainly exceeded my expectations, and I know we made a difference in the lives of those we treated." 

The exercise, sponsored by U.S. Southern Command and U.S. Air Forces South, was the last scheduled for this fiscal year.