Panama News

By Capt. Ben Sakrisson - Air University Public Affairs (Published in the Maxwell/Gunther Dispatch); CHITRE, PANAMA – A two-week U.S. Southern Command-sponsored exercise designed to hone the skills of medical personnel while providing free health care in remote locations began here Saturday with the arrival of medics from seven military installations. The Medical Readiness Training Exercise, or MEDRETE, to Panama is one of approximately 70 events sponsored each year by U.S. Southern Command through partnerships with host nation doctors that treat patients at three rural locations. The range of medical specialties of the Air Force medics involved in this MEDRETE includes dentists, optometrists, general physicians, a pediatrician and a dermatologist. (more) (Photo Credit: Air Force photo by Capt. Ben Sakrisson)


While Panama has a national health care system, in many remote locations it is cost prohibitive for patients to travel to a doctor on a regular basis.


The intent of this mission is to bring medical care to a location accessible by the patients and enable those requiring routine care to simultaneously enter the government health care system.


The opportunity to deliver free medical care can make a lifelong difference to patients suffering from maladies for extended periods of time.


“As long as they do not lose the eyeglasses, they will last them for a number of years,” said Maj. Darrell S. Grise, an optometrist here from the 96th Aeromedical Dental Squadron at Eglin Air Force Base, Fla. “We get a lot of bang for the buck, at a relatively low cost for a pair of glasses. The patients see a drastic difference in their lives.”


In the weeks ahead, it is anticipated that the medical team will see thousands of patients over the course of the exercise


Managing chaos


U.S. Air Force and Panamanian doctors began seeing patients here at the Escuela de Cabuya School as part of Medical Readiness Training Exercise Panama Monday.


On the first day patients rolled in like waves, hundreds upon hundreds waited in orderly fashion; looks of curiosity and anticipation on their faces. The heat, combined with drenching humidity, created a tiring effect that lengthened the day and made the never-ending stream of patients feel even longer.


Complaints from the patients in the long lines were nonexistent; they patiently waited their turn while conversing with others nearby and intently watched those at the front of the line. The small children were very interested in everything around them, but older children, aware of what was going on, frequently cried when it was their turn.


“We don’t have any reason to complain. We have so much. They don’t have things like toothbrushes and toothpaste,” said Tech. Sgt. Crystal V. Hagler, a technician from the 42nd Medical Group at Maxwell Air Force Base, Ala.


Capt Matthew J. Edwards, a dentist from 42nd MG intercedes, “they don’t have it and they are still happy.”


Several patients came in with worries of past medical issues; some were elated when told that their prior condition no longer affected them. Others would have skin afflictions removed, teeth pulled and eyeglasses prescribed.


Through the ingenuity of Maj. Christie L. Barton deployed from the Surgeon General’s office at the Pentagon, one effectively-blind patient even left with a pair of makeshift bifocals created from two pairs of overlapping glasses held together by duct tape.


Rooms at the schoolhouse were arranged much as wards in a hospital. U.S. family-practice doctors shared a room with Panamanian doctors as patient after patient sat at a small desk describing their symptoms; some through interpreters, others directly to Spanish speaking medics. Cutout pieces of colored paper with pictures of the alphabet lined the walls. It seems an appropriate setting to teach patients about hygiene and give children daily vitamins.


“One of the reasons I go on MEDRETES is for a reminder of reality, to realize how blessed I am,” said Maj. Mikelle A. Maddox a family practice doctor from the 42nd MG. “Helping people in locations like this that have difficulty getting care otherwise is a definite benefit of being a doctor in the Air Force.”


Within an intentionally dim-lit building resided the optometry staff, amid four test stations with diverse needs for light; some necessitate a dark environment and others, such as reading the eye-charts on the wall, requiring more light.


At the end of each day the pharmacy next door is surrounded by a crowd awaiting their prescriptions from the day. The two day total: 990 patients seen, with more to come.

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