Medret sets up shop

Photo By Sgt. 1st Class Benjamin Cossel | Staff Sgt. Edwin Sanchez, a medic from Cleveland, Ohio with the Ohio Army National Guard Medical Detachment explains to a young Aldea Orotinos, Honduras villager the medicines he is prescribing. After seeing a doctor, residents of the village were given medication for a variety of ailments during a Medical Readiness Training Exercise, Mar 27 as part of Operation New Horizon.  

ALDEA OROTINOS, HONDURAS

03.28.2006

Courtesy Story

196th Mobile Public Affairs Detachment

ALDEA OROTINOS, Honduras - Doctors, dentists and medics from the Ohio Army National Guard set-up shop at a local primary school for a Medical Readiness Training Exercise, Mar 27 in the tiny Honduran village of Aldea Orotinos.

In addition to the Ohio Guardsmen, the joint exercise included members of the United States Air Force and the Honduran Army.

Lt. Col. Stanley Jones, deputy commander of the medical detachment explained, the primary focus of the exercise was to give his Soldiers an opportunity to train in a joint environment and in ways not possible back in the United States.

"A lot of our medics and doctors are able to cross-train out here." said Chicago resident, Stanley. "Plus, the medical screening and prescribing of medications are the types of things we don't really have an opportunity to do back home in a drilling status."

In addition to sharpening their skills, the medical exercise provided an opportunity for the United States Military to provide much needed medical attention to this poverty stricken neighborhood.

"This is an exceptionally poor country," Stanley said. "Healthcare only exists for the very rich; those who can afford it."

Upon arriving at the school, Soldiers set up five stations.

"Everyone who comes in here must first go through the preventative healthcare station," explained Lima, Ohio resident Staff Sgt. Sharon Buchanan.

At the preventative healthcare station, Soldiers from the Honduran Army explained the benefits of washing hands often, using the toilet instead of the outdoors and drinking purified water instead of from the tap to improve basic sanitation.

After the lecture, each resident was given de-worming medication; pin-worms are rampant in the area, a bottle of vitamins for each member of the family as well as a bar of soap.

Buchanan went on to explain, once villagers went through the preventative healthcare station, they're sent to medical screening where medics determined the type of care needed. Some went to the doctor, some went to the dentist, some went to both.

Inside the make-shift clinic, doctors treated ailments ranging from infected cuts to lower back pains. For Capt. Sean Stiltner, a 61N, Field Surgeon, the experience reinforced the basics of medicine.

"Currently, I'm a resident at the Lucasville Family Practice, said the Portsmouth, Ohio resident. "This has been an excellent opportunity for me. It's really reinforcing some of the basics of medicineâ?¦you don't get to do this type of stuff back home."

Toledo, Ohio resident Capt. Robert Strickland agreed with Stiltner, "Working in the operating room at Toledo Hospital, I mostly write the orders and my patients are asleep when I work on them. This is a much more hands on type experience."

Once the villagers completed their medical evaluation, they were sent next door where they were given any medication the doctors prescribed.

After seeing the doctor and getting necessary medicine, if needed, villagers then went over to see Maj. Mark Beicke or Col. Michael Hablitzel; the dentists.

"We've seen about nine or so patients today," said Hablitzel.

Hablitzel went on to note that most of the patients maintained fairly good oral hygiene. "For has many people that have come through today, we actually haven't pulled too many teeth."

In private practice since 1983, Hablitzel noted that working under the shade of a large Cyprus tree in the open air was quite different from the well light sterile environments of his home office.

"It's definitely different, I would love to have a bit more light to work with," said Hablitzel. "But it's actually quite relaxing."

All told over 180 villagers came through the school to be seen. Jones noted that while the turn-out was smaller then normal, the positive effect was still the same.

"We come down here with a caring attitude providing services that their government is financially unable to. It all really helps to foster a good picture of the U.S. Military."

• Date Taken: 03.28.2006
• Date Posted: 03.28.2006 11:15
• Story ID: 5892
• Location: ALDEA OROTINOS, HN