Asuncion, IP Agency.- The “Phase II of the Amistad’24 Medical Mission” was officially launched at the Villa Choferes del Chaco Maternal and Child Hospital, in the department of Boquerón, and will continue until August 9. In the first phase, more than 700 medical services were provided to people from Chaco, mostly from indigenous communities.
Starting July 16, a team from the U.S. Air Force and Army will be in Paraguay as part of Mission Amistad’24 to offer essential surgical, medical, ophthalmological and dental care services free of charge, as part of their commitment to global health.
A medical team from Taiwan joined this health cooperation mission. The teams worked hand in hand with their Paraguayan civilian and military counterparts at the Villa Choferes Maternal and Child Hospital, at the Filadelfia Municipal Polyclinic and at the Family Health Units (USF) of Uj’e Lhavos and Cacique Mayeto, sites where numerous indigenous ethnic groups from the area in the Paraguayan Chaco go.
The total investment for this medical mission is 1.6 million US dollars and 220 thousand US dollars in medical supplies.
The launching ceremony for the second phase was attended by the United States Ambassador to Paraguay, Marc Ostfield, General Tsai of the Republic of China-Taiwan, representatives of the Office of Defense Cooperation and the participating medical mission, as well as national and departmental authorities. This mission will last until August 9.
More than 700 patients treated in the first phase
Dr. Liz Ovelar, medical advisor to the Directorate General for the Development of Health Services and Networks of the Ministry of Public Health, thanked the United States and Taiwan for their collaboration in the second phase of the mission.
He stressed that in this first phase, more than 700 patients have already been treated and bonds of friendship have been created between local and foreign professionals.
He also said that the second phase will be equally successful and of great benefit to the community.
Ambassador Ostfield explained that this second phase will include surgeries with the participation of Taiwanese surgical experts. He thanked the Ministries of Health and Defense for making the mission possible.
Taiwanese representative General Tsai said the mission demonstrated the humanitarian and cooperative ties between Taiwan and its partners.
Following the launch of the second phase of the Mission, the authorities visited the services where the teams are providing assistance to the community. This medical care operation is led by the 12th Southern Air Force.
The mission is comprised of approximately 50 U.S. military medical professionals and technicians, along with 12 support personnel. In addition, approximately 12 Taiwanese medical personnel will form an additional team.
The expertise of these teams covers a wide range of specialties, including general and emergency surgery, nursing, dentistry, anesthesiology, ophthalmology, pharmacy, family medicine, biomedical equipment repair and medical support.
During Phase I of the mission, professionals provided dental consultations, primary care and ophthalmological consultations, as well as the provision of medicines free of charge.
Patient recruitment was carried out through the Cacique Mayeto and Uj’e Lhavos Family Health Units, at the Maternal and Child Hospital of Villa Choferes and the Amistad Polyclinic. With this, phase II begins, which will include surgical care for previously scheduled patients.
Patients enrolled and those selected for surgery by local medical directors are matched with the available specialties of the U.S. team, ensuring that the medical care provided is responsive to the needs of the community.
These missions for direct medical care to patients are coordinated in Paraguay specifically with the Ministry of Health, with medical directors of the hospital and the health region. Their objective is to offer training in clinical preparation to military personnel, while relieving the overload of their health system.
#health #services #Chaco #Phase #Amistad24 #Medical #Mission #launched
2024-08-06 18:44:10
