Phase 2 of the Amistad Medical Mission 2024 was officially launched at the Villa Choferes del Chaco Maternal and Child Hospital, Boquerón department, and will run until August 9. In the first phase, a range of healthcare was provided to more than 700 Chaco residents, mostly from indigenous communities.
From July 16 a team from the Air Force and the US Army It will be in Paraguay within the framework of the Amistad´24 Mission to offer essential surgical care services, as well as a range of other free medical, ophthalmological and dental services.
This health cooperation mission was joined by a medical team from Taiwan. The teams worked hand in hand with their Paraguayan civilian and military counterparts at the Villa Choferes Maternal and Child Hospital, in the Municipal Polyclinic of Philadelphia and in the Family Health Units (USF) of Uj´e Lhavos and Cacique Mayeto, places where numerous indigenous ethnic groups from the area attend, in the Paraguayan Chaco.
The total investment of this medical mission is US$1.6 million, with US$220,000 of that being medical supplies.
The United States Ambassador to Paraguay, Marc Ostfield, and General Tsai of the Republic of China-Taiwan, participated in the launch act of the second phase, representatives of the Defense Cooperation Office and the participating medical mission, as well as national and departmental authorities. This mission will run until August 9.
More than 700 patients treated in the first phase
Dr. Liz Ovelar, medical advisor to the General Directorate for the Development of Health Services and Networks of the Ministry of Public Health, appreciated the collaboration of the United States and Taiwan for 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 stated that the second phase will be just as successful and of great benefit to the community.
For his part, Ambassador Ostfield explained that surgeries will be included in this second phase with the participation of surgical experts from Taiwan. He thanked the ministries of Health and Defense for making the mission possible.
Taiwanese representative General Tsai said this mission demonstrates the humanitarian and cooperative ties between Taiwan and its partners.
After the act of launching the second phase of the Mission, the authorities toured the services where the teams are conducting assistance to the community. This health care operation is led by the 12th Southern Air Force.
The mission is comprised of some 50 United States military medical professionals and technicians, along with 12 support staff members. In addition, approximately 12 members of the Taiwan medical staff will form an additional team.
The experience 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 medications free of charge.
The recruitment of patients was carried out through the Cacique Mayeto and Uj´e Lhavos Family Health Units, at the Villa Choferes Maternal and Child Hospital and the Amistad Polyclinic. With this, Phase 2 begins, which will have surgical care for previously scheduled patients.
Registered patients and those selected for surgery by local medical directors are matched with the available specialties of the American team, thus ensuring that the medical assistance provided responds to the needs of the community.
These missions of 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. Its objective is to offer training in clinical preparation to military personnel, while alleviating the overload of their health system.
