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BARAHONA, Dominican Republic - “I hope the aid never
ends,” said Arqu�mides Ferreras, a resident of Barahona,
Dominican Republic, and English professor at the Catholic
Technical University of Barahona, known as UCATEBA.
According to Ferreras, the medical assistance that the
residents of Barahona received from the Medical Readiness
Training Exercise (MEDRETE) at the Centro de Capacitaciόn Progresando Mar�a Auxiliadora from April 27 to May 1
(2014) is
significant and appreciated by all.
"The training
exercise, sponsored by U.S. Southern Command, U.S. Army
South and the government of the Dominican Republic, is a
combined effort aimed to provide general and specialized
medical services at no cost," said Cpl. John-Matthew Urby,
noncommissioned officer in charge of the Military
Information Support Operations (MISO) and a native of San
Antonio, Texas.
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Capt. Abraham Alvarenga, a native of Austin, Texas, and member
of the 102nd Group Support Battalion, 71st Theater Information Group
assigned to Task Force Larimar, visits the Barahona province on May
7, 2014. The Military Information Support Operations group
interviewed members of the community regarding the general and
specialized medical services they received at no cost during the
annual bilateral humanitarian exercise known as Beyond the Horizon
in their community. (Puerto Rico National Guard photo by Sgt. Wilma Orozco Fanf�n)
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“This humanitarian mission will not
succeed unless the community is correctly informed and is
therefore able to actively participate in the initiative,”
said Urby.
According to Urby, the mission of the MISO
group is to inform the populace of what is going on in their
town and prevent the spread of false information. If the
populace is well-informed, they will come and receive the
services.
As a result of the MISO efforts, more than
6,000 people found out about the exercise and received
medical care in the areas of geriatrics, gynecology, dental,
dermatology, ophthalmology, pediatrics and pharmaceutical
services offered at the MEDRETE held in Barahona, said Urby.
Nevertheless, the MISO group returned to the community
of Barahona where the services were offered to find out from
the residents if the information and services offered in the
exercise were accurate and appropriate for the community,
said Urby.
“The results show that the populace is
grateful, open and receptive to the initiative," said Urby.
"Most of the residents received the information through the
MISO elements and through the result of their efforts in
disseminating about 1,000 flyers.”
In the Barahona
community, the involvement of the Catholic Church in the
process was important. The nuns collaborated by driving
through the community with loudspeakers advising the
residents of the event and by issuing flyers to the children
at school to take home to their families, said Urby.
“I found out through my grandchildren who got the flyers at
their school”, said Isabel Moreste Debai, a resident of
Barahona, who received eyeglasses at no cost at the MEDRETE.
“The community is in need of help and medical
assistance. Events like the one held here in Barahona are
greatly appreciated,” said Ferreras.
“Some people are
not able to afford a visit to a doctor at a medical
facility, those who can, usually are not able to purchase
the medicines that are prescribed to them”, said Ferreras.
“Being able to see the doctor and receive the medicines
has been wonderful, said Josefina Beltr� Cuevas, a resident
of Barahona who received medical attention and medication
for high blood pressure at the MEDRETE. "The event should be
repeated.”
By National Guard Sgt. Wilma Orozco Fanf�n
Provided
through DVIDS
Copyright 2014
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