The second of two U.S. Southern Command-directed military medical teams continues to treat victims of the Aug. 15 massive earthquake that ravaged Peru – providing care to an estimated 600 patients a day.

The team, comprised of 14 U.S. Air Force doctors, a physician’s assistant, a pharmacist and six medical technicians, deployed from Goodfellow Air Force Base and Lackland Air Force Base in Texas to Ica, Peru Aug. 19. 

According to command officials, the medical team is projected to remain in Peru until early September.

When the team arrived, it brought $65,000 in medical supplies and began treating residents in the affected areas within 24 hours. The team has provided assistance to two displaced persons camps and a hospital in Pisco, as well as residents of the town of Independencia, about 20 miles east of Pisco.

The Air Force medical team is the second such unit U.S. Southern Command deployed to Peru teams to assist with earthquake relief in the aftermath of the 8.0 earthquake.

The first team – a 30-person joint mobile surgical team from Joint Task Force-Bravo in Soto Cano Air Base, Honduras -- deployed to Pisco, Peru Aug. 18.  The team, which included a mobile surgical team, other medical personnel, communications specialists and a small security detail, stayed in Peru until Aug. 22.  During their deployment, they  partnered with Peruvian health officials and provided surgical and non-surgical medical care to 1,769 patients in Pisco.

Also, U.S. Air Force C-130s flew eight sorties, transporting over 79 tons of Red Cross supplies, including tents, blankets, sleeping bags and MREs. The C-130s also transported medical response teams, a surgical operating room package and medical supplies to affected areas in the vicinity of Pisco.

Other DoD assistance

A U.S. medical team of eight doctors and 10 medical students from the Naval Medical Research Center Detachment (NMRCD) was already on the ground on a training mission when the earthquake occurred and was immediately mobilized to the affected areas. The team conducted assessments in conjunction with USAID/Peru staff and medical support to injured Peruvians.

NMRCD has established a portable laboratory to support the local Ministry of Health Hospital and to perform disease surveillance. The Department of Defense has also contributed $50,000 to Peruvian government agencies involved in the disaster relief operation.

As of Aug. 21, the Department of Defense had provided approximately $600,000 in technical and financial assistance.

To date, total U.S. government assistance from USAID and DOD is more than $2 million.