Photo By Staff Sgt. Ian Valley | Spc. Heidy Silvia, an U.S. Army Reserve dental technician of the 48th Combat Support...... read more read more
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Kauai, Hawaii—People of the Island of Kauai turned out in force from June 10-23, 2017 to receive medical care from U.S. Army Reserve Soldiers as well as servicemembers of the U.S. Air Force and Navy during Operation Tropic Care 2017, an operation that delivered dental, optometry and pharmacy services to anyone in need free of charge.
“The purpose of tropic care is to help those who are less fortunate or in need of medical service,” said Spc. Heidy Silvia, a dental technician of 48th CSH Bravo Company of Ft. Meade, Maryland. “We provide those services for free for the communities.”
Hundreds of citizens from Kauai showed up to one of the three main sites that were set up to deliver health care to the underserved island community. Those who could not reach one of the main locations had the opportunity to be treated by the mobile team, who traveled during the operation to more remote parts of Kauai.
This operation both served as an act of community outreach, and as a training exercise for approximately 150 Army Reserve Soldiers of the 48th Combat Support Hospital out of Ft. Meade, Maryland and Virginia Beach, Virginia.
According to Silvia, these exercises, called Innovative Readiness Training, or IRT, allow Army Reserve Soldiers to really train up on their skills.
“Exercises like this allow you to work hands on and learn to personable with people,”
said Silvia. “You get to do your job that maybe you haven’t done in a while and confront problems that you may face down the road.”
As a member of the mobile team, Silvia traveled to different locations, and helped set up sites that were able to deliver important services to the public. She and the rest of the dental team was able to x-ray patients, as well as provide minor procedures such as fillings and cleanings for any person that required the service. Patients were also able to see optometrists and be fitted for glasses, which they could receive the very next day, also free of charge.
Sgt. 1st Class Carmen Simmons, a pharmacy specialist with the 48th CSH Co. A from Norfolk, Virginia, and the Tropic Care Mobile Team noncommissioned officer-in-charge says training like this can only make a Soldier better.
“I think it is a great way for Soldiers to stay abreast of their skills,” said Simmons. “They’re actually getting to do the procedures they would do if they were deployed.”
Simmons oversaw the operations of the entire mobile clinic which was comprised of members the Army Reserve, active duty Navy and Air Force.
The value of Tropic Care to the community does not go unnoticed. Valerie Skiai, a volunteer for Tropic Care, and a local resident of Kauai, said the excitement in the community is overwhelming.
“A lot of people have told me that they are so excited that the military is here providing this service for them and that nothing comes out of their pocket,” said Skiai, who believes Tropic Care provides a much needed service to some of the less fortunate citizens of her home island. “Sometimes the cost is a barrier. Sometimes you have to choose, do you want good teeth or do you want to see, or do you want to eat the meal for the day.”
Many of the people on Kauai do not have the means to get regular healthcare provided to them according to Skiai. She stated there is a large portion of under-privileged people and that what the Army Reserve and the other services are doing for them is spectacular.
Silvia says her experience has also been one of purpose.
“I feel like being here impacts the community in ways that we may not be able to see firsthand,” said Silvia. “I know they will come here to us to get their medical assistance but in the long run it will be beneficial because they may not be able to help themselves.”
Feedback for Tropic Care has been tremendous according to Silvia, who says she and the rest of the team have seen many very appreciative patients.
One patient even left them a note, said Silvia. A note befitting of the Island of Kauai that simply read with gratitude, “Mahalo for the new teeth.”
| Date Taken: | 06.17.2017 |
| Date Posted: | 06.19.2017 18:55 |
| Story ID: | 238332 |
| Location: | KAPAA, HAWAII, US |
| Web Views: | 361 |
| Downloads: | 5 |
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