Photo By Sgt. 1st Class Christopher Hernandez | Sgt. Sandra Garza, a health care specialist assigned to the 7217th Medical Support...... read more read more
SELMA, Ala. - As the sun rises and illuminates the town of Selma, Alabama, local residents gather up in a single-file line to register for free medical care provided by the Army Reserve Medical Command. Many are coming from across surrounding counties.
One of the units on site is the 7217th Medical Support Unit, Southeast Medical Area Readiness Support Group from Perrine, Fla. They began their mission in the region August 2, as part of their Innovative Readiness Training (IRT) Program under the Task Force Southern Dawn Mission.
“This is our West Black Belt IRT mission - an agreement between the United States Army Reserve and the Delta Regional Authority,” said Staff Sgt. Aniel Bonachea, a dental hygienist assigned to the 7217th MSU. “It’s a free service that the Army Reserve Medical Command Soldiers provide to all of our local residents.”
“We do not ask if they have medical insurance, Medicare, or any form of coverage,” Bonachea adds. “We’re here to accommodate their needs and provide them with as much medical services as we possibly can.”
Enlisted personnel and commissioned officers alike have provided the residents of Selma with an extensive array of medical services, comprising of blood pressure and glucose level checks, vision exams and prescription eyeglasses, and dental evaluations with free oral surgery such as wisdom teeth extraction. However, the 7217th MSU strives to go further with their commitment to their cause.
“We’re hoping to not only provide them care, but also education in regards to hypertension and other diseases,” said Maj. Chaitanya Brundavanann, a family medicine physician attached with the 7217th MSU. “During this process, we then point to some resources where they can get their medications and then create and maintain healthy habits once we leave.”
Besides the city of Selma, the 7217th MSU is also conducting their IRT mission in the neighboring towns of Camden and Demopolis. According to Bonachea, about 70 Soldiers of diverse medical professions have been actively engaged in Selma, while the Camden and Demopolis operations have approximately 30 Soldiers at each respective site.
Within its 10-day span so far, the IRT program has made significant progress in the Black Belt region of south central Alabama , performing over 70 dental treatments per day, producing about 100 eyeglasses a day, and helping residents save their hard-earned dollars.
“It’s an opportunity for our Soldiers to place their skills to a test, an opportunity to make an impact on the local community, and gives us a great feeling and great pride in what the United States Army has taught us,” Bonachea said.
The 7217th MSU is indeed making a voluminous impact on the local residents who have participated in this IRT mission. According to West Black Belt participant Joe Morlon, a 60-year old native of Selma, the lack of insurance coverage and high out-of-pocket expenses were the main impediments as to why he couldn’t get new glasses.
“This is my first time [ever] getting glasses,” Morlon said. “Before I got them, I couldn’t read the newspaper or read the Bible. Now I can see better [since] I put them on.”
Another local resident, Yolanda Parker, stated that she was impressed with the great variety of medical services that she received during the IRT. . Although Parker had the original intention to have her wisdom teeth removed, she discovered that she also suffered from high blood pressure, subsequently receiving a one-month supply of medication prior to undergoing any dental operations.
“[After] I took the medicine for three days and then came back, [the Army Reserve dentist] pulled four wisdom teeth for me,” Parker said.
She further added that after receiving a free pair of prescription glasses, she’s currently in the process of getting more dental treatment.
“[The Soldiers] are great and they take care of you,” Parker said. “They do their job and they’re nice people.”
The free medical support and services provided during the West Black Belt IRT is slated to continue until Aug. 13. All three sites will continue taking anyone who wishes to take full advantage of the medical services the Army Reserve is providing.
| Date Taken: | 08.10.2015 |
| Date Posted: | 08.15.2015 23:50 |
| Story ID: | 173328 |
| Location: | SELMA, ALABAMA, US |
| Web Views: | 190 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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