445th AW provides medical care to Panama residents

  • Published
  • By Staff Sgt. Robert Nelson
  • 445th Arlift Wing Public Affairs
WRIGHT-PATTERSON AIR FORCE BASE, Ohio --  Thirty members from the 445th Airlift Wing descended upon Panama for the Panama Medical Readiness Training Exercise (MEDRETE) Aug. 18-31, providing medical services to 5,000 residents who have little or no access to medical care.

The teams, consisting of the 445th Aerospace Medicine Squadron and the 445th Aeromedical Staging Squadron, traveled to several locations within the Panamanian boarders. They went to the villages of Caimito, Laventa, and Tucué in the Coclé District of Panama using local schools as their improvised medical centers.

Local Panamanians received more than 9,400 procedures to include dental exams, dermatology exams, optometry exams and general medical care. They also received medication. Along with the optometry exams, glasses were provided by the U.S. Government and the Lyons Club. The Panamanian Ministry of Health provided immunizations to residents.

According to Lt. Col. Michael Rives, 445th AMDS mission commander, the purpose of these missions is to allow Airmen the opportunity to use their skills in an environment outside the military.

In addition to providing medical care, "Communication and culture skills are also fine tuned. We must find a way to communicate with people who don't speak the same language and have a different culture about important information regarding their health, like medications and follow-ups," Rives added.

Master Sgt. Melissa Caylor, 445th AMDS health care technician, said the Panamanian Ministry of Health advertised to residents that there would be medical services available, after that, word of mouth helped deliver the message to residents in extremely rural areas.

"We went to Panama to show American support and help with host nation relations. The people were very grateful. They have limited transportation to get to medical care," Caylor said. "One young girl walked about two hours," Caylor added.

The MEDRETE is part of the International Healthcare Specialist mission. The Air Force's IHS program focuses on building medical partnerships with other countries in peacetime, before they need assistance. IHS members are educated in the language, culture, and politics of their specific areas of responsibility. Teams support theater engagement plans, create partnerships with medical colleagues from nations within their region, facilitate military-to-military and military- to-civilian interactions, and support medical-planning operations and deployment, according to Air & Space Power Journal.

The main focus of Air Force Reserve Command's IHS program is to promote the total-force concept. The Reserve IHS program also identifies training and exercises that will combine Air National Guard, Reserve, and active duty efforts. Reserve units participating in this year's MEDRETE were Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio; March Air Reserve Base, Calif.; Westover Air Reserve Base, Mass.; Niagara Falls International Airport, N.Y.; and Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Wash.

Humanitarian missions such as the one to Panama provide Reservists an opportunity to showcase to the world how the military supports other countries while giving allowing the members the chance to make a difference.

"You get to see a different side of the world. They appreciate the work you do for them," said Caylor. "When you get a hug from a person who is really thankful for what you have done for them, it means that much more," Caylor added.

"Doing something useful, doing something nice for people who appreciate it, that's what makes it worthwhile to me," Senior Master Sgt. Carla Kraus, 445th AMDS health care technician.