Reservists provide humanitarian aid to Moroccans

  • Published
  • By Tech. Sgt. Susan Stout
  • 944th Fighter Wing Public Affairs
GUELMIM, Morocco --  Perhaps it's the memory of the 17-year-old girl who nearly passed out after having a tooth pulled, or the young girl whose lazy eyes were fixed by a "miracle worker," or the little boy who suffered from hydrocephalus that will always be on the minds of 944th Medical Squadron members following their two-week deployment here April 15 through 30 to provide humanitarian assistance. 

The medical squadron, joined by active duty and reserve members of sister services, participated in African Lion 2007, a regularly scheduled, combined U.S.-Moroccan military exercise designed to promote improved interoperability. 

The team of 37 included members from several specialties including dermatology, optometry, pediatrics, gynecology, internal medicine and dental. 

The group visited six sites in six days with each site containing Moroccan patients with various medical needs. The Americans and their Moroccan medical counterparts were able to assist 3,746 patients and provided 5,803 prescriptions and 833 pairs of glasses. 

"I am very proud how our team worked during the visit," said Lt. Col. Patrick Carpenter, 944th Medical Squadron commander. "We were able to provide some medical assistance for people who had been suffering without medical care for more than 10 years. The interaction we had with our Moroccan counterparts was priceless." 

The initial challenge of the mission was the language barrier, but it was soon overcome. 

"We don't speak the same language, but we speak the same (medical) language," said Master Sgt. Richard McDowell, 944th Medical Squadron laboratory NCO in charge. 

School visit
Maj. Madeline Sanchez, 944th Medical Squadron chief nurse, collected donations of school supplies to take to the villages of Morocco. 

On the second day, the set up for medical care was next to a small school. After the patients had been processed, Major Sanchez and the squadron's first sergeant, Master Sgt. Darin Andsager, walked over with a Moroccan escort to visit the children. 

The quiet classroom soon transformed as the eight students stood up and in unison greeted the pair with a welcome song. They immediately returned to their seats and began their class work. 

After asking where their teacher was, Major Sanchez learned he went to the medical site and was assisting the Americans with translations in the pharmacy. 

Sergeant Andsager immediately connected with the children and sat at their desks to see what they were learning. 

The book was in Arabic and he laughed as he told them he didn't understand. A boy, about 8 years old, pulled out the same book in French. The first sergeant again laughed and said he didn't understand. 

A boy from the desk in front of them passed a French dictionary and as Sergeant Andsager thumbed through the pages he looked up and asked, "How do you say 'barbecue' in French?" 

The boy laughed, covered his face, and said, "Barbecue!"