SOTO CANO AIR BASE, Honduras –
Joint Task Force- Bravo's Medical Element (MEDEL) and the Army Support Activity hosted the first Soto Cano Air Base Health and Wellness Fair providing valuable health and wellness information to all military and civilians on base, Feb 27.
"One of the main reasons we wanted to do the Health and Wellness Fair is to provide information about high blood pressure & diabetes, two health problems that can be controlled with awareness, proper care, and attention. It is never too early or too often to spread information that can help us avoid major health conditions in the future," said U.S. Army Captain Aimee Gregory, the outgoing Community Health Nurse for MEDEL and the main planner for the event. "We saw about 200 servicemembers, visitors and civilians and we have already received positive feedback from the community regarding how helpful they found the teachings and screenings to be."
There were eight booths set up including health information on high blood pressure, diabetes, sleep health, fire safety, preventative medicine, rabies prevention, chaplain services, physical therapy and Sexual Harassment/Assault Response (SHARP). Blood pressure testing and blood sugar testing was also offered along with free smoothie tastings and giveaways. This event was attended by servicemembers, civilians, retirees, Foreign Service nationals, Department of Defense (DoD) contractors and non-DoD contractors.
"The turnout for the Joint Task Force-Bravo Health and Wellness Fair reflected the community's commitment to health and wellness," said U.S. Army First Lieutenant Jewell Hemmings the incoming Community Health Nurse for MEDEL. "I was grateful to the host nation participants for their efforts to support us. Their appreciation was heartfelt and endearing."
Joint Task Force-Bravo's MEDEL is composed of 61 Army personnel who have come together from across the United States and have provided medical care to more than 6,900 people in Honduras over the last year. MEDEL's community health goes into the Comayagua community every week to help with water testing and disease prevention as well as helping at a local pediatrician's office. MEDEL provides preventative medical care, wellness check-ups, dental care, preventative dental care, surgical care, and physical therapy through local partnerships in Comayagua, Tegucigalpa, and through local Medical Readiness Training Exercises (MEDRETES) which are carried out on a weekly basis.