U.S. medical mission

PANAMA. A team of 40 American Army medical personnel, from Southern Command, yesterday completed a 14 day medical readiness training exercise, that took them to three areas in the interior and benefited not only hundreds of local residents, but also their pets.

Exercises of this type enable the team to be ready to move to any part of the world to assist people hit by natural disasters, and working in collaboration with surviving local services, provide assistance “in the field” where regular facilities may no longer be functioning.

The team consisted of doctors, dentists, ophthalmologists, opticians veterinarians, medical support staff and technicians who worked alongside volunteers, including doctors, dentists, nurses and pharmacists from Panama East Health Region of the Ministry of Health.

The project was initiated in collaboration with the American Embassy.

The main U.S. medical team, largely from Louisville, Kentucky, but with elements from New Orleans, Arizona and Texas, was preceded by a small advance party which planned three-day operations in Paso Blanco, Torti and Cañita.

Patients lined up by the hundreds to receive dental treatment, have their eyes tested and glasses provided, and medical treatment and advice from the visiting team and the Panamanian volunteer unit.

Those with no problems of their own joined another line with their pets for free treatment.

For the military it was a successful training mission, For the local population a welcome incursion

Dr Quijada was one of the Panamanian volunteers helping the visiting team.