Story by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class (SW/AW) Brian Gaines

USS Boxer Public Affairs.

PUERTO DE SAN JUAN, Guatemala – American and Guatemalan health care professionals provided medical and dental care to hundreds of children in the remote village of Escuela las Pampas May 13 during a U.S. military-led humanitarian mission.

USS Boxer (LHD 4) medical personnel, embarked medical personnel, United States Public Health Service (USPHS), Military Health Service of the Army of Guatemala and members of various Non-Government Organizations provided the health care during the Pacific phase of Continuing Promise (CP) 2008.

CP is a Humanitarian Civic Assistance mission teaming American and Guatemalan health care service providers and relief capabilities to demonstrate the cooperative partnerships among allies.

The medical staff arrived to the remote location via two United States Marine Corps CH-46 Sea Knight helicopters which landed in a field used by livestock for grazing. The medical team then walked roughly a quarter-mile to the school to set up tents and prepare triages and examination rooms. Approximately 600 children from the school were waiting to receive medical care, with an additional 500 children from the surrounding rural areas outside the gate.

“The most common services we will be providing today are administering multi-vitamins and de-worming medications,” said Lt. Camille Moss, medical officer aboard Boxer. “We will also be treating serious injuries and some chronic medical conditions.”

Along with de-worming, the medical team treated common ailments such as stomach discomfort as well as muscle and joint pain.  Several of the children also were treated for broken bones and sprains.

“People in rural areas having parasites is a common occurrence, much like us having a common cold,” said Cmdr. (Dr.) John King, officer in charge of the medical clinic, in reference to administering de-worming medication. “The local government has a program to de-worm the population about once or twice a year. We are here today to supplement that.”

In addition to medical care, Boxer’s dental department was on hand to provide cleanings, extractions and restorative procedures and fillings.

“Tooth decay is a common problem we have seen here today,” said Lt. (Dr.) Christopher Henninger, Boxer’s Dental Officer. “Many children we have seen today also want cleanings.  The dental I.Q. is really high among these children.”

Despite temperatures in the upper 90’s and high humidity, the medical staff worked quickly and efficiently to serve the children, many of whom had been waiting as long as seven hours to await treatment.

“Crowd control has been one of the challenges we have faced today,” said Lt. Candace D’Aurora, a nurse from National Naval Medical Center, Bethesda. “The children have been really appreciative and patient. I have heard non-stop thank you’s since we opened the doors this morning.”

Many of the health conditions and injuries treated were new experiences to many of the staff at las Pampas.

“Many of the ailments and conditions are things many of us have only seen in textbooks,” added D’Aurora. “This experience has been excellent training for all of us.”

The people of this remote rural area were grateful for the opportunity to get health care in their neighborhood.  Many residents have not received any type of medical treatment in over a decade.

“The doctors and nurses have treated us very well,” said Aida Batres Barrientos, a mother of eight who walked several miles to get medical treatment for her two youngest children. “My youngest children both have asthma.  It’s wonderful that the Navy and the American people have brought medicines and care to us.”

Several medical professionals from the Military Health Service of the Army of Guatemala were on hand to provide assistance and to train alongside the doctors and nurses at las Pampas.

“At this moment, we are very pleased that all of you have been here to support us,” said Technical Sergeant Specialist Corina Raquel Cardona Hernandez.  “Our children are the future, and we’ll never forget the help and training you have provided us.”

“The training we have done with the Guatemalan people has been amazing,” said Henninger.  “It has been a wonderful experience, and it means a lot to see the appreciation from the people we are serving.”  

Boxer’s mission exemplifies the U.S. maritime strategy which emphasizes deploying forces to build confidence and trust among nations through collective maritime security efforts that focus on common threats and mutual interests.

Embarked units and organizations aboard Boxer for CP include Amphibious Squadron 5, Fleet Surgical Team 5, U.S. Public Health Service, Project Hope, Project Handclasp, Navy Seabee Construction Battalion Maintenance Unit 303, Helicopter Mine Countermeasures Squadron 14, Marine Medium Helicopter Squadron 764, Tactical Air Control Squadron 11, Special Marine Air Ground Task Force 24, Helicopter Sea Combat Support Squadron 23, Assault Craft Unit 1, Fleet Survey Team and Beach Master Unit 1.