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Tinker doctor supports humanitarian mission

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  • By Brandice Armstrong
  • Tinker Public Affairs
TINKER AIR FORCE BASE, Okla., --  Maj. Judy Rattan was on a mission. Literally.  The 72nd Aerospace Medicine Squadron's Optometry Services Flight commander, formerly Major Manno, spent two weeks executing a Medical Readiness Training Exercise in Ecuador. The purpose of a MEDRETE is to provide medical care to individuals in remote areas and build U.S. relations with foreign governments. Major Rattan returned Oct. 4.

"Missions such as this are a win-win for all involved," said Col. Craig Packard, 72nd AMDS commander. "The indigenous patients get care that they might not get if not for the team's visit, our active duty members obtain valuable experience providing medical care in austere environments, and the results build good-will between the countries visited and the United States government."

Major Rattan was one of 16 officers, NCOs and enlisted members from 10 different bases to participate in the MEDRETE. She was the only one from Tinker to go. The major said she volunteered to participate after there was a cancellation. Officials then requested an optometrist with an official passport. It was her second MEDRETE mission. Her first one had been to Guatemala in 2003, while she was stationed at Tyndall Air Force Base, Fla.

In Ecuador, the MEDRETE team examined nearly 5,000 individuals in need of optometry, dental, family medicine or women's services, at four different sites. Major Rattan said of the 5,000 total patients, more than 1,100 patients came solely for optometry services. Approximately 800 pairs of glasses were distributed.

"It's amazing how you get such a diverse group to work together to make a team in that short of a time and to see as many patients as we did," said Major Rattan. "And to be able to give folks the gift of sight in something so small, as a pair of eyeglasses, they were so grateful."

Though she was primarily responsible for optometry services, the major said she also helped with triage and interpreting, since there were not enough translators in the group.

Situated in the Andean Mountains in the Azuay Province, the major said her day began between 5:30 and 6:30 a.m. every day. After dressing and eating breakfast, the team drove to the respective site. They were accompanied by Peace Corp volunteers, Ecuadorian military members acting as their guards, Humanitarian Assistance Program coordinators, and U.S. South Command officials, a joint force comprised of all military branches, which sponsors the MEDRETEs.

Once at the site, numbered placards were given to the patients standing in line. Typically, the MEDRETE team began seeing patients by 8:30 a.m. and finished by 4 p.m. Their days were determined by the sun. The MEDRETE team had to leave before the sun set, as the roads which got them from their site, back down the mountain to the hotel were unpaved, unlit and without guardrails.

Overall, the major said she enjoyed experience, but ultimately realized how lucky she is to be an American citizen.

"The importance of health care as a basic need [should be] a basic right of all people," Major Rattan said. "You can never underestimate how important health care is. I can't tell you how much more I appreciate the United States of America every time I leave it. There's no better country on earth."