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Maj. Stephen Boden, a pediatrician from the 52nd Medical Group, Spangdahlem AB, Germany, does what it takes to get a young patient to open wide at the Tampiong Clinic in Tamale, Ghana. Major Boden is one of more than 50 United States Air Forces in Europe personnel deployed to the West African city for Med Flag 2006, a 10-day exercise. US military personnel are working with their African military counterparts by staging medical operations in the countries of Benin, Senegal, Nigeria, and Ghana. The Tamale mission includes medical field clinics in the remote city of Tampiong and one at the edge of Tamale. At both sites, local residents can see an optometrist, dentist, pediatrician or family care physician. (Photo by TSgt Pamela Anderson)

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Maj. Shane Dieckman, a family care physician from the 52nd Medical Group, Spangdahlem, AB, Germany, does an inital exam on a patient at the Tampiong Clinic in Tamale, Ghana, during Med Flag 2006. Major Dieckman is one of more than 50 U.S. Air Forces in Europe medical, support and security personel deployed to the West African city for the 10-day exercise. USAFE personnel are working with their African military counterparts by staging medical operations in the countries of Benin, Senegal, Nigeria, and Ghana. The Tamale mission includes medical field clinics in the remote city of Tampiong, and one at the edge of Tamale, where local residents can see an optometrist, dentist, pediatrician or family care physician. (Photo by TSgt Pamela Anderson)

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Maj. Elizabeth Shaw, a nurse from the 52nd Medical Group, Spangdahlem AB, Germany, takes the vitals from a patient at the Tampiong Clinic in Tamale, Ghana, before admitting her for further treatment. Major Shaw is one of more than 50 U.S. Air Forces in Europe personnel deployed to the West African city for Med Flag 2006, a 10-day exercise where US military personnel are working with their African military counterparts by staging medical operations in the countries of Benin, Senegal, Nigeria, and Ghana. The Tamale mission includes medical field clinics in the remote city of Tampiong, and one at the edge of Tamale. At both sites, local residents can see an optometrist, dentist, pediatrician or family care physician. (Photo by TSgt Pamela Anderson)

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Maj. Craig McCluer, an optometrist from the 52nd Medical Group, Spangdahlem AB, Germany, does a basic eye exam on a Ghanaian man at the Bilpeila Clinic in Tamale, Ghana, during Med Flag 2006. Major McCluer is one of more than 50 U.S. Air Forces in Europe personnel deployed to the West African city for the 10-day exercise where U.S. military personnel are working with their African military counterparts by staging medical operations in the countries of Benin, Senegal, Nigeria, and Ghana. The Tamale mission includes medical field clinics in the remote city of Tampiong, and one at the edge of Tamale. At both sites, local residents can see an optometrist, dentist, pediatrician or family care physician. (Photo by TSgt Pamela Anderson)

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52nd MDG medics treat Ghanaians during Med Flag 2006

Published Sept. 13, 2006
By Tech. Sgt. Pamela Anderson
USAFENS

TAMALE, Ghana -- More than 50 Airmen from U. S. Air Forces Europe arrived in Tamale, Ghana, late Saturday night to participate in a humanitarian exercise called Med Flag 2006. The group, which consists of medical, support and security troops from Spangdahlem, Ramstein and Sembach Air Bases in Germany, will spend four days treating patients from the South African city and surrounding rural areas.

The American military medical personnel will be working with their Ghanaian military counterparts for the duration of the exercise.

"The objective is to treat as many people as possible in the short time frame and to work side by side with the Ghanaian doctors and learn about regional diseases," said Colonel Timothy Vining, Chief of USAFE exercises.

"When the people line up, we will give the second group of about 200 passes that will move them to the front of the line the following day," he said. "This will give people an idea about whether or not they will be seen by a doctor so they're not waiting in line all day for nothing."

This is not the first time the U.S. government has arranged for military personnel to offer aid to African citizens and it's seen as a gesture of goodness every year.

"(The Ghanaian people) appreciate the support extended to them," said the Honorable Alhaji Mustapha Ali Idris, Northern Regional Minister, "this is a significant deed from America and it registers effectively in the minds of the people in the region."

Though the goal of Med Flag is to help those who are less fortunate and who don't have access to standard health care, some of the care givers feel they will get something from this experience too.

"I'm looking forward to the opportunity to share common experiences with our Ghanaian counterparts and learn about their own unique approaches to medicine," said Maj kevin Bohnsack, a flight surgeon from Spangdahlem Air Base.

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