Harold J. Webb and Maj. An Air Force medical team recently traveled to Soto Cano Air Base, Honduras, to repair not only the appearance but the spirit of people suffering bodily disfigurements. Officials at Wilford Hall Medical Center, Lackland Air Force Base, Texas, have been committed to performing these types of missions for more than six years. The visits not only benefit the people of Honduras, but serve as vital training for the medical teams. The atmosphere at Santa Teresa Hospital showed the team just how fortunate they are to live and work in America.
Simple things can become big problems.
Besides the sanitary conditions, the number of patients seeking treatment was a challenge. On the first day, the team evaluated 218 patients, according to Webb, but they had to turn many folks back every day because of the lack of time and room. We know with our small staff we can't assist everyone, but we still try. It hurts everyday to close shop and see people still waiting to be seen. The cases involved cleft lips, burn scars, and traumatic hand injuries.