Flying Doctors visit Asuncion

It was an honour to have the Reno Chapter of Los Medicos Voladores in Asuncion on Jan 27-31. It was the first time they brought such a large group of volunteers, 9 people in 3 airplanes. It was a very successful clinic with an excellent turnout and the group thouroghly enjoyed themselves in our village.

Good thing Dentist Craig arrived first because the doctor on the second plane was in awful pain from an infected molar...so he immediately helped her pain by giving her a shot right there at the airstrip!



Special thanks to Surfdoc stan, Anahi (the most beautiful policewoman ever), Laura and some other local women who helped us out at the clinic and entertaining the group.



Hats off to the delegacion and cooperativas for providing food & lodging for the group and to the military and police who guarded their aircraft on those cold nights.


We had over 80 patients on a waiting list for dental and they did 15 extractions, 59 fillings, 3 restorations, 2 adjustments and 16 cleanings!


I assisted and translated for the doctor who ran the women's clinic and we saw 20 people and did 8 pap smears and many breast exams and diabetes tests.
At the eye clinic, 126 pairs of readers and sunglasses were given out.



The team really enjoyed the food at 3 Hermanos Restaurant including lobster, yellowtail, octopus and chicken mole and were able to relax after the clinics at the beach house. On their day off, they went to the beach, visited the lobster cave at the blowhole, swam and even caught some fish from in front of their casa.




The coordinator of the group Hank Frohlich suggested that our village should build a small clinic where the flying doctors could leave their equipment and hold clinics
as they have done in Abreojos and San Ignacio. The Flying doctors are changing their mandate and focusing more on servicing permanent clinics so they dont have to bring all thier equipment like dental chairs, compressors, tools etc. with them on the aircraft. I plan to meet with the mayor and other representatives to start the ball rolling.

Hank said that once a clinic is estabished, other groups like Doctors without Borders, vets etc would be more likely to come to our village. We also discussed the idea that perhaps some expats who have places here or even visiting folks who have dental or medical experience could donate some time for things like teeth cleaning, diabetes tests or whatever. i think it is a great idea and we have been discussing this on many levels here to try to make it a reality.

In Abreojos, the village donated a lot and each coop member donated 1,000 pesos which was spent on blocks and cement to build the clinic. Craig, a dentist there donated dental chairs and equiped the clinic and made the same commitment here if we can get a clinic built. We welcome any ideas some of you may have.

A huge thanks goes out to Los Medicos Voladores for donating their time and service to our village and we look forward to more frequent visits.

Here are some photos of their visit

http://s385.photobucket.com/albums/oo295/blowhole1/Flying%20...

[Edited on 2-4-2011 by shari]

Awesome