A U.S. Army medical team from Tripler Army Medical Center and the 25th Infantry Division, based in Hawaii, visited the Maldives 31 May - 15 June 1996. The mission, organized by U.S. Army Pacific (USARPAC), provided medical and humanitarian aid to the people of the island nation, made up of more than 1,000 coral atolls off the coast of India.

Sponsored by U.S. Pacific Command (USPACOM) and USARPAC, future exercises will range from primary health care to casualty evacuation plans and drills, preventive medicine, veterinary training, and information exchanges.

"It's great training," said LT. COL. Mike Clark, a pediatric dentist and project manager for the second Maldives mission in recent years. "We had to practice medicine without the support you normally have," Dr. Clark noted. The remote and medically austere environment provided the kind of field conditions U.S. Army personnel need to maintain readiness.

The U.S. military team consisted of 12 doctors and a nurse, including an orthopedist, gynecologist, optometrist, plastic surgeon, physician assistant, optometry technician, and others. They saw between 2575 patients in various specialty clinics each day and performed dozens of surgeries. Surgical procedures ranged from routine to difficult as the staff performed eye and dental exams, general surgeries, and amputations. The team also provided instruction and training for the island's medical staff, and educational seminars for the people of the Maldives.

There were actually two missions going on simultaneously. The medical team split. Half spent two weeks with local doctors staffing the Indira Gandhi Memorial hospital in the capital city of Male. The others, who became known as the "boat people," embarked on a series of island-hopping house calls to remote villages scattered across the island chain. Both groups were escorted by officials from the Maldives National Security Service, who arranged lodging, boat transportation, and interpreters.

"The village people really look forward to the team's visit," said LT. COL. Mark Raterink, Chief of Plastic Surgery at Tripler, who was assigned to the hospital in Male. He said the team was surprised to find that the islands were a mix of exclusive luxury resort complexes catering to wealthy European tourists and traditional native villages. Dr. Raterink's wife, CAPT. Leslie Tuchmann, a clinical nurse specialist, was among the boat people dispensing care to the islands.

The boat crew endured monsoon season as they charted a choppy eight-hour course to the southern atolls. Once in port, they were greeted by island chiefs and curious villagers who warmly welcomed them.

The U.S. medical team was impressed by the Maldives' medical personnel. Most of the tiny islands had a doctor, nurse, aid, and midwife caring for the local population. They also had running water, rudimentary medical supplies, and equipment.

After meeting with the island chiefs and town councils to assess community needs, the team visited schools, where they performed dental and eye exams for hundreds of island youngsters. Many were fitted for glasses that will be made in the U.S. and shipped back to the Maldives.

The trip centered on primary health care with a major focus on women and children. "Children are the future in the Maldives," said CAPT. Dave Messer, a physician assistant who organized the previous Maldives mission two years ago. About 60 percent of the 200,000 population is under age 17. "There used to be a very limited life expectancy," CAPT. Messer said. With better health education and improved facilities, mortality rates are expected to improve.

One of the most ominous threats in the region is AIDS, Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome. "Education is the key," CAPT. Messer said. With more islanders traveling, people of the Maldives are now more vulnerable to the deadly virus. With an aggressive awareness and education program, people appear to be taking the threat seriously.

In addition to promoting the team's educational mission, the Maldives Ministry of Health provided local medical technicians to assist the team as they made their rounds. Days were long and the work challenging as the team treated over 1,300 patients during their ten-day journey to three atolls. "Everything ran smoothly," CAPT. Messer noted. "There was a real spirit of cooperation among everyone involved in the mission."

Days were anything but routine for the team assigned to the hospital. Morning musters were held along the dock on the resort island of Bandos before commuting across the channel to waiting taxis bound for the Indira Gandhi Memorial Hospital in Male. The Maldives National Security Service sent out public announcements letting the public know when the team of specialists would be available. Patients eagerly sought treatment from the American medical team.

As the team prepared for their departure, they were amazed at how much they had accomplished in two weeks. They were all impressed by the beauty of the islands and the kindness of its people. Before leaving, they shared their experiences with the Maldives National Security Service and made recommendations for improvements.

Many hope to play a continuing role in the Maldives' progress and are excited at the prospect of returning. "The country is on the right track," Maj.. Messer said. "They're taking care of the environment and being very focused early on." "It's a monumental task, but they're doing a good job" concluded Dr. Raterink.