375th Medical Group members give aid to Guatemalans during exercise

SCOTT AIR FORCE BASE, Ill. (USTCNS) --- The 375th Medical Group participated in a recent joint nation Medical Readiness Training Exercise in Pinalito and Quetzaltepeque, Guatemala.

The 375th sent 13 members to participate in the 15-day MEDRETE deployment to Pinalito and Quetzaltepeque, Guatemala.

The mission was coordinated through the 12th Air Force as part of New Horizons 2000, a long-term U.S. Southern Command initiative to train U.S. military personnel in medical, support and engineering roles while deployed in a third world environment.

The team developed and implemented a short notice deployment plan in less than 60 days. The team had expertise in pediatrics, family medicine, emergency services, obstetrics and gynecology, dermatology, oral surgery/dentistry, optometry and pharmacology.

During the 15-day trip, the team was based on the outskirts of Chiquemula, a major regional city with a population of 200,000. They worked at two separate villages and saw approximately 540 patients per day.

Every day, the team in Pinalito was greeted by an overwhelming number of people waiting for medical attention. The local population routinely walked two to three hours out of the mountains to receive medical care. Quetzaltepeque, the second site, was located in a larger village about 30 minutes south of Chiquemula.

Adults and children in Guatemala struggle to achieve minimal health standards, according to MDG personnel. Although a clean water supply was limited and malnutrition was common, the people were genuinely concerned about the health of their children and themselves.

"We quickly realized that the infrastructure and medical system we have in the United States was not available in Guatemala," said Capt. Laura Moore, the team's pediatrician. "Some procedures that are routine here were not available in their referral hospitals. We learned to adapt and improvise quickly."

"Military involvement in this civic action was an opportunity for our medics to get unique hands-on experience which was wonderful training for future military deployments," said Col. Thomas Massello, 375th Medical Group commander. "Being able to participate in these types of missions enhances the Air Force's ability to expand and maintain a quality health care team."

"There is definitely a lot of need, unfortunately we couldn't take care of all their problems," said Maj. (Dr.) Orlando Magallanes. "However, the people were genuinely appreciative and I'd go back in a heartbeat." (FROM SCOTT AIR FORCE BASE PUBLIC AFFAIRS).