More than 40 personnel from 15 units across three U.S. military service branches participated in a campaign to augment health services in multiple locations across El Salvador, August 19-September 6.
Service members supported the AMISTAD campaign by integrating with El Salvador Ministry of Health services and exchanging knowledge with Salvadoran healthcare professionals while promoting the health and well-being of their nation’s citizens.
“Our purpose here was to deploy medical assistance teams to increase the medical readiness of U.S. forces and strengthen U.S. relationships in El Salvador,” said U.S. Air Force Major Anthony Boudreau, 302nd Aeromedical Staging Squadron nurse and mission commander for the campaign. “We wanted to exchange knowledge with one another and increase our interoperability with our partner nation.”
During the AMISTAD campaign, U.S. forces from nine medical specialties accomplished more than 1,500 patient actions and delivered more than $100,000 in supplies to Hospital San Bartolo, Unidad Familiar de Salud Ilopango, Hospital Cojutepeque, Unidad Familiar de Salud Cojutepeque, Hospital Chalatenango, Unidad de Salud Chalatenango, Hospital El Salvador and surrounding communities. They also delivered equipment and infusion pumps designed to combat the spread of Dengue, a fever-inducing viral infection that spreads through mosquito bites.
During the first week teams augmented emergency departments, mental health clinics, pediatrics wards, optometry sections, and more to support doctors and nurses providing diagnoses and patient treatment.
Additionally, crews supported outreach clinics established during the second week to provide care to citizens in surrounding communities. Service members brought supplies and equipment with them to address the needs of walk-in patients away from the vicinity of established hospitals. They worked with healthcare professionals from the El Salvadoran Ministry of Health every step of the way.
Along with providing real-world patient care, knowledge-exchange events were planned so nurses and practitioners from both nations could share best practices in their respective fields.
U.S. Air Forces Southern/12th Air Force, in conjunction with U.S. Southern Command’s Humanitarian Civic Assistance program, donated three point-of-care ultrasound hand instruments for use at major hospitals and one for sustainment training in the National Health Institute.
U.S. Air Force mental health specialists also organized a symposium for healthcare workers explaining an emerging model of mental healthcare that may better address the overarching needs of a population.
U.S. Air Force Chief Master Sergeant Joseph Kim, 302nd Aeromedical Staging Squadron senior air reserve technician and director of operations for the mission, addressed a large portion of the team on their final day supporting the AMISTAD campaign.
“All of you made this a successful mission, and you have our deepest gratitude,” said Master Sgt. Kim. “The beauty of U.S. military members is that we can come together from various backgrounds to be a team that will give it all they have to accomplish the mission. You helped local communities and please know that you made a difference to the beautiful country of El Salvador.”
