Dominican Republic medical exercise cut short by protests

Capt. Carlos E. Chirivi, a civil engineer interpreter here who is an Officer Training School instructor with the 24th Training Squadron at Maxwell Air Force Base, Ala., interprets for Capt. Lora R. Skeahan, a dentist from the 42nd Medical Group at Maxwell, as she extracts a tooth from a child at a school turned temporary clinic in Arenoso, Dominican Republic, April 28, during the largest Maxwell Air Force Base-planned U.S. Air Force Medical Readiness Training Exercise (MEDRETE) to date. A group of 45 medics, translators, security and support personnel derived from the U.S. Air Force, Army and Marines provided dental, dermatologic, general medicine, optometric, pediatric, pharmacy and public health services. The medics treated 8,602 patients at three locations during the eight days of the U.S. SOUTHCOM sponsored Beyond the Horizon 2009 – Caribbean. A MEDRETE is a U. S. Southern command-sponsored exercise designed to provide humanitarian assistance and free medical care to the people of the host nation, while providing an unparalleled training opportunity for U.S. and host nation forces. SOUTHCOM sponsors approximately 70 MEDRETEs per year. (U.S. Air Force Photo by Capt. Ben Sakrisson)

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Dominican Republic medical exercise cut short by protests

A portion of the Dominican Republic Medical Readiness Training Exercise personnel walk towards an awaiting U.S. Army Blackhawk helicopter, April 28, for transportation past protests, unrelated to the MEDRETE, in towns along the travel route to the final clinic site in Arenoso and billeting in San Francisco de Macorís Arenoso, Dominican Republic, during the largest Maxwell Air Force Base-planned U.S. Air Force Medical Readiness Training Exercise (MEDRETE) to date. A group of 45 medics, translators, security and support personnel derived from the U.S. Air Force, Army and Marines provided dental, dermatologic, general medicine, optometric, pediatric, pharmacy and public health services. The medics treated 8,602 patients at three locations during the eight days of the U.S. SOUTHCOM sponsored Beyond the Horizon 2009 – Caribbean. A MEDRETE is a U. S. Southern command-sponsored exercise designed to provide humanitarian assistance and free medical care to the people of the host nation, while providing an unparalleled training opportunity for U.S. and host nation forces. SOUTHCOM sponsors approximately 70 MEDRETEs per year. (U.S. Air Force Photo by Capt. Ben Sakrisson)

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Dominican Republic medical exercise cut short by protests

Published April 30, 2009
By Capt. Ben Sakrisson
Air University Public Affairs

SAN FRANCISCO DE MACORIS, Dom. Rep. -- A Medical Readiness Training Exercise here was called off today after completing eight of the scheduled 10 treatment days due to quality-of-life protests, unrelated to the MEDRETE, in towns along the travel route to the final clinic site in Arenoso.

Mission personnel were airlifted from the city of Arenoso by U.S. Army Blackhawk helicopters April 28 in order to avoid anticipated roadblocks and protestors along the 90-minute bus ride back to billeting here.

"We are disappointed that we couldn't perform our mission on these last two days, but it was the correct decision under the circumstances. I am honored to have been part of this mission and am proud of each and every member of the team," said the MEDRETE commander, Lt. Col. Andrew B. Meadows, the commander of the 42nd Aeromedical-Dental Squadron at Maxwell Air Force Base, Ala. "The team performed magnificently in every facet of this mission; everyone was motivated, worked exceedingly hard, and overcame numerous challenges with style and class."

The protests turned violent on the first day, April 28, and gunshots and explosions could be heard from the medical team's hotel here in the evening and burning tires were seen along the roadway to Arenoso earlier that morning. According to a local resident, protestors were picketing for better health care, education, utilities and better wages to afford high fuel costs and tax levels. He said that the average pay for doctors here is about $600 per month and as low as $100 per month for some military personnel; while gasoline costs approximately 130 pesos ($3.70) per gallon and his grocery purchase of 600 pesos ($171.42) was taxed 500 pesos ($14.28).

The medical mission was anticipated to continue on April 29 and April 30 but the intensity of the protests and sporadic violence necessitated cancellation of operations for the safety of mission personnel. The main protests were largely over on the 30th; however, violence was expected during the funerals of two residents killed during the first day of the strike.

"Even though the mission was shortened, we got a chance to talk to the locals in the Dominican Republic, and get a perspective on what their lives are like and share ideas," said Capt. Carlos E. Chirivi, a civil engineer interpreter here who is an Officer Training School instructor for the 24th Training Squadron at Maxwell. "It was a great experience to see what our guys do in a deployed environment in regards to medical readiness, we definitely made a difference here. As an interpreter here we made sure that the patients got what they needed and that the doctors understood their issues."

Despite the MEDRETE being 20-percent shorter than originally planned the medical team saw 8,602 patients and was on pace to break the top end goal of treating 10,000 patients during the mission.

The team of 45 medics and support personnel travelled to three locations and treated approximately 8,600 patients during the eight days of medical operations here in the northern region of the Dominican Republic as part of the U.S. SOUTHCOM sponsored Beyond the Horizon 2009 - Caribbean. Assuming safe local road travel the medics are anticipated to return to the United States on May 2.