49 MDG Airmen return from MEDRETE

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Heather Stanton
  • 49th Fighter Wing Public Affairs
HOLLOMAN AIR FORCE BASE, N.M. --  Fourteen doctors and technicians from the 49th Medical Group recently returned from a two-week humanitarian assistance exercise in Bambil Desecho, Ecuador. 

"The intent of the Medical Readiness Training Exercise was to provide the Airmen with training in an austere location and the opportunity to treat illnesses not routinely seen in the United States, along with working with the foreign military," said Lt. Col. Madeline Howell, 49th Medical Operations Squadron commander and MEDRETE commander. 

The team consisted of a dentist, a family practice physician, an internal medicine physician, a women's health practitioner, an optometrist, a pediatrician, a pharmacy technician, two medical technicians, a dental-lab technician and a physician's assistant.
While in Bambil Desecho, the team saw more than 6,800 patients and filled more than 17,500 prescriptions for the local people. 

The team dispensed glasses, pulled teeth, treated fevers and infections and gave routine check ups, said Colonel Howell. One doctor, Capt. Lee Brock, 49 MDOS pediatrician, removed an extra finger from a patient. 

"This is the first time we did preventative medicine during this type of deployment," said Colonel Howell.

The team had a clinic set up and the locals traveled from 17 different villages to get medical attention, said Colonel Howell. 

"Seeing the smiles on the patient's faces was very rewarding," said 1st Lt. Montsho Corppetts, 49 MDG family practice physician. "They were very appreciative of us being there. They waited for hours to be seen." 

Before leaving Holloman, the team took donations of supplies, candy, clothes and toys and handed them out to the locals, said Colonel Howell. 

"All of the eyeglasses were donated by the Lions Club," said Maj. Don Hamer, 49th Aeromedical Dental Squadron optometrist. "We gave out more than 500 pairs." 

The MEDRETE isn't only in Ecuador, said Colonel Howell. They take place all over the world. 

The 49 MDG will probably participate in MEDRETE again, Colonel Howell said. "It is good training for our physicians and a good recruiting tool." 

Overall, the MEDRETE was a success for the team, said Colonel Howell. "It was good to know we could make a difference to a country,"