Bangladesh, U.S. treat nearly a thousand daily

CHILMARI, BANGLADESH

08.04.2009

Story by Cpl. Heather Golden 

III Marine Expeditionary Force   

CHILMARI, Bangladesh - A team of Bangladesh army and Okinawa-based U.S. Navy medical personnel treated about 100 patients more than the expected quota during a Medical Civil Action Project, Aug. 4, as part of Bangladesh Interoperability Program 2009.

MEDCAP personnel from 1st Marine Aircraft Wing and 3rd Medical Battalion and 3rd Dental Battalion, both with 3rd Marine Logistics Group, III Marine Expeditionary Force, planned for at least 800 patients a day at each of the free medical and dental clinics.

They totaled 902 patients by the end of the day.

Since then, the final count for the joint-nationality team repeatedly hit beyond the 800 mark.

The team was a conglomeration of Bangladesh army and U.S. Navy doctors, dentists, corpsmen and technicians, and was an integral part of BIP '09, which lasted from Aug. 1-11.

Three Marine augments from Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni and 3rd Medical Battalion helped provide security and assisted with patient flow at the triage location.

"It is very important to the people of Bangladesh to get access to doctors, free of cost, especially since they have very poor access to medicine," said Bangladesh army Maj. Shawkat Hayat, an optometrist.

In order to reach such a high level of success, the two separate groups had to perfect how they work together as a single team.

This included bringing open minds to work each day.

"We learn from their experience, and they took some from us," said Navy. Lt. Andrew Himm, a dentist with 3rd Dental Battalion, 3rd MLG, III MEF.

"The fact that we work together to create a smooth working environment helps out," said Himm, a native of Livonia, Mich.

"Every day gets a little bit easier," added Navy Lt. Megan Diaz-Freed, another 3rd Dental Bn. dentist. "We understand each other a little bit more. Understanding our differences and talking about them helps us work together better."

The time spent together learning and adapting, created bonds between members of the two teams, and gave every individual a broader concept of the other's culture.

"Working with Americans has been a great experience," said Hayat, from Narail District, Bangladesh. "You are Christian, I am Muslim. But we are all still people. I see very little difference."

Mutual understanding is only half of the success story's cause, Diaz-Freed, who is from Calmer, Iowa, also cited the corpsmen and their Bangladeshi counterparts with keeping the days running smoothly.

If there are any problems in organization or patient flow, they are taken care of before the doctors even know a problem existed, she said.

"It's the hard work of the corpsmen and their work ethic," Diaz-Freed said. "I have to give credit to them. Any flaws or breaks, and they step it up."

The clinics offered dental, optometry and general practice medical services to the impoverished local population.

Each U.S. Navy doctor was paired with at least one native Bangladeshi doctor to provide translation and help with patient care.

There were also two Bangladeshi nurses who rotated to help each team of doctors.
According to Diaz-Freed, the presence of the native doctors served another purpose she didn't originally count on.

"They relate to the people and make it that much more efficient," she said. "They put confidence in their patients to trust American doctors and encourage them to receive our care."

BIP '09 is a combined bilateral operation to promote joint military cooperation and promote goodwill between the Bangladesh and the United States.

• Date Taken: 08.04.2009
• Date Posted: 09.01.2009 18:50
• Story ID: 38257
• Location: CHILMARI, BD