MARINE CORPS AIR STATION IWAKUNI, Japan -- While in America people take basic health care for granted, in Thailand it is a different story. For three days, Feb. 20-22, medical personnel from Marine Fighter Attack Squadron 251 and other Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni units volunteered their time to help Thailand nationals with medical care at a local elementary school.
The Sailors, along with Marine volunteers, took part in the three-day combined United States, Thai and Singaporean Medical/Dental Civic Action Program that provided medical, dental and optometry care for over 2,000 patients a day. They used Bon Bungtakala Elementary School's classrooms as exam rooms, according to Petty Officer 3rd Class Elizabeth Cronnin, VMFA-251 corpsman.
"We saw approximately 400 people a day for 10 hours straight all three days," Cronnin said. "The school let us use some of their classrooms as acute care rooms."
The Sailors provided medical care to the Thais, who had health concerns ranging from bone and joint problems to parasite and cardiology issues.
"Anyone who had a health concern could come and get checked out," Cronnin said. "We saw all types of things with these people. A lot of it was simple stuff, like malnutrition or parasites from the water which caused a big number of cases."
All the work that was done would have been a lot harder if it weren't for the Thunderbolt volunteers who took time out of their liberty time to lend a hand, said Cronnin.
"The volunteers helped in all aspects of the event," Cronnin said. "They assisted in the transporting of the medical gear, assisted people to get where they needed to be for the specific type of care they needed and entertained everyone while they were in line waiting for treatment.
They did a heck of a job. We had some Marines work all day Sunday with us, just to turn around to work on night crew that same day. The patients couldn't say enough about the Marines. They were very happy with them."
The volunteers were excited to help in even the smallest of tasks.
"I helped control the lines for the optometry," said Lance Cpl. Tony Clevinger, VMFA-251 electric shop. "I also helped get the corpsmen some water while they were working those long hours. It was very rewarding to know I was helping make a difference in these people's lives."
Communication was a barrier that had to be dealt with while serving in an unfamiliar country. This was overcome by the use of translators provided by the Thailand Public Health department, according to Cronnin.
Although glad to help out, Cronnin and others were put in a somber mood when there was someone they knew they couldn't help.
"I am used to seeing people and being able to take care of people," Cronnin said. "It was a life changing experience to have patients I knew I could help, but needed long term care I couldn't give them. There was one woman who was only 27 and needed a heart-valve replacement, which we couldn't give her. There are no hospitals close to their village and if there were, they wouldn't have the money to go."
The Marines who helped out were especially affected because they are not used to seeing people in such poor shape, said Clevinger.
"I usually see stuff like that on TV and don't think about it," Clevinger said. "Since I was there all three days, I had a chance to sit back and see the things I take for granted. I see how lucky I am to be in the position I'm in to have a good job and basic necessities taken care of."
The villagers were very grateful of the medical team and the Marines who took the time to help them.
"Everyone was very appreciative," Clevinger said. "Even though they were a little cranky from standing in line, they had a real good attitude about it."