Photo By Sgt. 1st Class Jason Alvarez | U.S. Army National Guard Spc. Pitor Sowuleski, a medic with the Vermont Army National...... read more read more
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The Vermont National Guard and their state partner Senegal wrapped up a Medical Readiness Exercise (MEDREX) in Thies, on March 2nd.
The 40-person U.S. team worked alongside Senegalese civilian medical professionals to treat 625 patients in a variety of medical specialties at the Thies Regional Hospital—located 70 kilometers east of Dakar, and at two smaller hospitals in and around Thies during the two-week exercise.
U.S. Army Lt. Col. James Burrows, commander of the Vermont Army National Guard Medical Detachment, explains the team structure.
“We’ve split up into 4 teams with people at each of the clinics. They will work alongside their counterparts, they’ll learn what they do and learn to trust in each other, and then whatever they’ll let us do to support them, that’s what we’re here to do.”
The MEDREX is organized by the State Partnership Program and administered by the National Guard Bureau. The exercise allows medical personnel from the U.S. military and partner nations to exchange medical procedures, and strengthen treatment capabilities. It also provides participants the experience to see unique medical delivery methods and ultimately improves their capacity to assess and deliver medical care.
“We’re here to collaborate and build a rapport with our Senegalese partners,” said Burrows. “We’ve enjoyed a state partnership with Senegal since 2008 and these exercises build on the trust and mutual respect we have for each other.”
This exercise embraced the “whole-of-society relationship” concept envisioned by NGB. The Vermont National Guard Soldiers and Airmen, who were all medical professionals, were paired with their civilian counterparts at civilian hospitals, which presented different challenges. Adapting to these challenges is one of the greatest lessons learned for both partners.
U.S. Army National Guard Capt. Crystal Reitman, a physical therapist with the Vermont Army National Guard’s Medical Detachment, saw first-hand the importance of adaptability in situations she would not normally encounter at home.
“It’s like field work. How are you going to make it happen? You want to be able to have an arsenal of ideas to say that okay, I don’t have a brace, or I don’t have a walker, I don’t have this type of equipment that will promote the result I’m trying to get. What else can I use to make that happen,” said Reitman stressing the importance of learning to think outside the box. “These exercises teach us how to conform to whatever the situation is that we may find ourselves in, and apply lessons learned.”
Reitman and the physical therapist staff assisted 33 patients throughout the duration of the exercise.
The MEDREX takes Soldiers and Airmen out of their comfort zone, to different countries where English is not spoken and where the culture is very different from their own back home. Whether it’s different religious beliefs, different styles of dress, food, or even bartering for goods.
Reitman explains there are also differences in treatment methods.
“The interventions are not different, the approach is different, just because the resources are not there. So I have to adapt in order to do the same things that I would do back in the states, but as far as the techniques, the interventions, we treat the impairments the same ways.”
It’s important for military members to be exposed to all the different environments that they may be called upon to work in. The Vermont National Guard who may be called to respond to natural disasters both at home and potentially anywhere in the world, in addition to operating in hostile environments.
Spc. Pitor Sowulieski, a combat medic with the Vermont Army National Guard’s Medical Detachment, understands the importance of being able to operate in unique environments.
“We never know where we’ll need to go next, so being able to work with our partner nations and understand the difficulties and the barriers that there are, is really important,” said Sowulieski. “Having these experiences really helps to not only to prepare us for future situations but give us the skills to work around things like language barriers and find ways to work together and learn from each other.”
Sowulieski worked in the emergency department at the hospital in Mbour, and found the experience surprisingly similar to his work as an EMT back in Vermont.
“We see a lot more vehicle accidents here, lots of trauma from those accidents. It’s been very interesting to help and learn how they process through trauma. At home we might see this kind of trauma once in a blue moon, but here it’s a daily occurrence.”
He emphasizes that he’s not doing anything new because he does a lot of suturing back home, but he did more of it at Mbour. During the exercise, they helped 168 patients with trauma injuries.
Sowulieski feels there are misconceptions at home about Africa in general, stating it’s not what they’re taught to expect.
“I’ve met some of the most experienced and professional physicians, nurses, and techs here as anywhere I’ve worked. The opportunity to build relationships and work with these professionals is the reason I volunteered for this mission.”
On any SPP mission, the Soldiers and Airmen have to build a level of trust with their partners. Building trust at the most junior level is a very useful skill for any military member and from that trust they can go on to build relationships that sometimes last a lifetime.
“The moment that really stands out for me was when I realized that I established that good relationship with the ophthalmologist that I’m working with,” said Tech. Sgt. Taylor Johnson, an ophthalmology technician with the 158th Medical Group. “The first couple days they don’t let you do much with patients. On the third day, the very first patient was a trauma, and she called me over and said look at this under the Slit Lamp (a microscope used to examine structures at the front of the eye and inside). And I was like this is great, this is a good moment, she trusts me to look at the patients!”
Johnson said she knew that was the moment when they bonded and that trusting relationship was born. Johnson and her colleagues saw 46 ophthalmology patients during the exercise.
The language barrier can slow down the process of building trust. Johnson used a translator app on her phone the first day.
“On the first day I didn’t have a translator so I used an app on my phone. We made some jokes using the app and that really help set everyone at ease! Since then I’ve had a translator with me, and one of the doctors can speak a little English, and I’m trying to learn some French. It’s difficult but it’s fun too!”
Vermont and Senegal have been partners through the State Partnership Program for 15 years with their partnership officially starting in 2008. This was the sixth MEDREX Senegal and Vermont have conducted since 2018 and all the Vermont participants are looking forward to returning for the next one.
| Date Taken: | 03.02.2023 |
| Date Posted: | 03.28.2023 09:56 |
| Story ID: | 440849 |
| Location: | THIES, SN |
| Web Views: | 48 |
| Downloads: | 2 |
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