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Arkansas Air Guard delivers care to Guatemalan villages

  • Published
  • By Maj. Keith Moore
  • Joint Force Headquarters Arkansas Public Affairs
Guatemala City, Guatemala --  Local and regional government officials, and the media joined with senior leaders of the Arkansas National Guard on Aug. 7 to visit a team of 40 medical personnel from the Arkansas Air National Guard who were performing a humanitarian medical readiness training exercise (MEDRETE) as part of their annual training requirement. 

The medical team made up of general physicians, pediatricians, dentists, optometrists, pharmacists, nurses and medical technicians from the 188th Fighter Wing and the 189th Airlift Wing of the Arkansas Air National Guard, reached out with their services while fulfilling their own training requirements as military medical professionals. 

The value and need for medical services in these remote areas is reflected by the seemingly endless line of people that formed outside the clinic compound early each day waiting to be seen. 

This humanitarian medical mission is made possible through an international cooperation agreement with the Guatemalan military and their public health department. It is sponsored by U.S. Southern Command and Air Force South. 

On this day the senior commanders of the Arkansas National Guard visited the site and observed the operation of the clinical services being provided by the Air Guard team. As part of the visit the commanding generals of the Arkansas Guard sat down for an impromptu meeting and news conference with the governor of the district of Baja Vera Paz and the mayor of San Miguel Chicaj. 

"The members of the Arkansas Air National Guard are privileged to be here in San Miguel Chicaj to share our work and resources to help the people of Guatemala," said Maj. Gen. William Wofford, adjutant general of the Arkansas National Guard. "This is a great opportunity for us to partner with the artillery brigade of the Guatemalan Army, which is providing us local support while we are here." 

Governor Angela Flavia Reyes Larios and San Miguel Chicaj Mayor Emilio Bolvito both expressed gratitude for the work the Arkansas Guard was performing for the people of Guatemala. 

The Guardsmen take the work seriously, and on only their fourth day of a 15-day planned mission, the team has already treated over 2,000 people. The common impairments receiving treatment include limb and joint pain and severe arthritis among the adults, while gastrointestinal and bacterial infections are the leading maladies in young children; dental hygiene issues were prevalent across all age groups. 

"We have been treating a lot of things that simply add to quality of life for the people," said Capt. Dorrie Staal, chief of immunizations at the 188th Fighter Wing's Medical Group. "The doctors are seeing adults with pain or difficulties related to long days working their crops. 

"The kids have a variety of conditions. Some need antibiotics for infections, and others have worms or other gastrointestinal issues derived from their living conditions." 

Many of the Airmen noted a sense of satisfaction in having the opportunity to not only practice their medical specialty, but also the ability to do so with people who really need basic medical services. 

"Things never stop in the pharmacy," said Senior Airman Kelli Reed, a pharmacy technician with the 188th. "We have been dispensing everything from aspirin to antibiotics, anti-gastrics like Maylox and even some mild pain medications for dental patients following tooth extractions. But everyone has been very good, and they are so grateful and smiling when we give them the medications and directions for treatment." 

On day two in the village of San Miguel Chicaj, located about 183 kilometers Northeast of Guatemala City, the Airmen labored in shifts to ensure they could treat as many people as possible and keep the lines moving. And, by the end of the day they had served nearly 700 people. 

Master Sgt. Che Kinnard of the 188th Fighter Wing, one of the handful of bilingual members of the medical team, took the medications from the pharmacy and translated the dosing instructions and treatment guidance to the parents of small children being treated by the team's pair of pediatricians. 

Even amidst the stifling humidity of the Central American climate, the Guardsmen moved with energized purpose as they went about treating as many Guatemalans as they could each day. 

Capt. Bridgette Scott said one delightful aspect of the mission was letting the parents know they could get treatment as well. 

"The villagers hear that an American medical team is here or is coming, so they bring their children for treatment and care," Scott said. "At first they only want to get the children seen. But it is so nice when we finally convince them that we are also here to treat adults too." 

In addition to San Miguel Chicaj, the 15-day medical mission took the Air Guard team to several other locations including Rabinal, Trapiche and San Jeronimo. And, although the team may only impact the lives of a few thousand Guatemalans during their visit, it is a "win-win" situation for all involved. 

"Missions like this are a win-win situation," said Brig. Gen. Riley Porter, commander of the Arkansas Air National Guard. "We capitalize on the training value for our team of Airmen while improving the quality of life and concept of Americans for thousands of Guatemalans in the process."

Arkansas Air Guard delivers care to Guatemalan villages

  • Published
  • By Maj. Keith Moore
  • Joint Force Headquarters Arkansas Public Affairs
Guatemala City, Guatemala --  Local and regional government officials, and the media joined with senior leaders of the Arkansas National Guard on Aug. 7 to visit a team of 40 medical personnel from the Arkansas Air National Guard who were performing a humanitarian medical readiness training exercise (MEDRETE) as part of their annual training requirement. 

The medical team made up of general physicians, pediatricians, dentists, optometrists, pharmacists, nurses and medical technicians from the 188th Fighter Wing and the 189th Airlift Wing of the Arkansas Air National Guard, reached out with their services while fulfilling their own training requirements as military medical professionals. 

The value and need for medical services in these remote areas is reflected by the seemingly endless line of people that formed outside the clinic compound early each day waiting to be seen. 

This humanitarian medical mission is made possible through an international cooperation agreement with the Guatemalan military and their public health department. It is sponsored by U.S. Southern Command and Air Force South. 

On this day the senior commanders of the Arkansas National Guard visited the site and observed the operation of the clinical services being provided by the Air Guard team. As part of the visit the commanding generals of the Arkansas Guard sat down for an impromptu meeting and news conference with the governor of the district of Baja Vera Paz and the mayor of San Miguel Chicaj. 

"The members of the Arkansas Air National Guard are privileged to be here in San Miguel Chicaj to share our work and resources to help the people of Guatemala," said Maj. Gen. William Wofford, adjutant general of the Arkansas National Guard. "This is a great opportunity for us to partner with the artillery brigade of the Guatemalan Army, which is providing us local support while we are here." 

Governor Angela Flavia Reyes Larios and San Miguel Chicaj Mayor Emilio Bolvito both expressed gratitude for the work the Arkansas Guard was performing for the people of Guatemala. 

The Guardsmen take the work seriously, and on only their fourth day of a 15-day planned mission, the team has already treated over 2,000 people. The common impairments receiving treatment include limb and joint pain and severe arthritis among the adults, while gastrointestinal and bacterial infections are the leading maladies in young children; dental hygiene issues were prevalent across all age groups. 

"We have been treating a lot of things that simply add to quality of life for the people," said Capt. Dorrie Staal, chief of immunizations at the 188th Fighter Wing's Medical Group. "The doctors are seeing adults with pain or difficulties related to long days working their crops. 

"The kids have a variety of conditions. Some need antibiotics for infections, and others have worms or other gastrointestinal issues derived from their living conditions." 

Many of the Airmen noted a sense of satisfaction in having the opportunity to not only practice their medical specialty, but also the ability to do so with people who really need basic medical services. 

"Things never stop in the pharmacy," said Senior Airman Kelli Reed, a pharmacy technician with the 188th. "We have been dispensing everything from aspirin to antibiotics, anti-gastrics like Maylox and even some mild pain medications for dental patients following tooth extractions. But everyone has been very good, and they are so grateful and smiling when we give them the medications and directions for treatment." 

On day two in the village of San Miguel Chicaj, located about 183 kilometers Northeast of Guatemala City, the Airmen labored in shifts to ensure they could treat as many people as possible and keep the lines moving. And, by the end of the day they had served nearly 700 people. 

Master Sgt. Che Kinnard of the 188th Fighter Wing, one of the handful of bilingual members of the medical team, took the medications from the pharmacy and translated the dosing instructions and treatment guidance to the parents of small children being treated by the team's pair of pediatricians. 

Even amidst the stifling humidity of the Central American climate, the Guardsmen moved with energized purpose as they went about treating as many Guatemalans as they could each day. 

Capt. Bridgette Scott said one delightful aspect of the mission was letting the parents know they could get treatment as well. 

"The villagers hear that an American medical team is here or is coming, so they bring their children for treatment and care," Scott said. "At first they only want to get the children seen. But it is so nice when we finally convince them that we are also here to treat adults too." 

In addition to San Miguel Chicaj, the 15-day medical mission took the Air Guard team to several other locations including Rabinal, Trapiche and San Jeronimo. And, although the team may only impact the lives of a few thousand Guatemalans during their visit, it is a "win-win" situation for all involved. 

"Missions like this are a win-win situation," said Brig. Gen. Riley Porter, commander of the Arkansas Air National Guard. "We capitalize on the training value for our team of Airmen while improving the quality of life and concept of Americans for thousands of Guatemalans in the process."