Soldiers invade Abbeville to provide free medical care for anyone

More than 120 sailors, soldiers and Air National Guardsmen have invaded Abbeville for the next two weeks to do something that may have never been done in the parish before. They are here to provide free medical, dental and eye care for anyone who wants it.
For the last three days, the old Heritage Manor Nursing Home, across the street of Abbeville General Hospital, has been turned into a medical center. In the medical center, there are military doctors, nurses, dentists, and optometrists, who have seen more than 500 people. By the time they leave Abbeville on March 6, 2,000 residents are expected to walk into the make-shift medical clinic and take advantage of the free care.
The clinic will be open from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. everyday through March 5. On March 6, it will be open from 8 a.m. to noon.
Mary Broussard went to the military clinic to get her eyes checked and was not expecting to get free eye glasses as well.
“I heard about this place from a friend,” said Broussard. “I needed to get my eyes checked and this was a great opportunity. I heard it was also free, so I had to come.”
When she arrived, she got her eyes examined and also learned she could get new eye glasses. “I walk out this place with better eyes, and it did not cost me anything. This is awesome.”
The entire mission is called, “Cajun Care 2014” – a Department of Defense-sponsored Innovative Readiness Training (IRT) mission implemented in conjunction with the Delta Regional Authority.
According to Cajun Care 2014 Officer-in-Charge Air National Guard Lt. Col. Jamie Ruffing, medical professionals assigned to the mission performed 90 dental procedures, 102 optical exams, 78 medical exams and engaged in more than 60 hours of patient health training the first day.
She expects the numbers to increase as more and more people hear about the free medical clinic.
“Cajun Care is an amazing experience that will create a positive and lasting impression on the community,” Ruffing said. “All of the procedures these sailors and airmen have performed have enriched the lives of the community here.”
Ruffing added that the logistics involved in mobilizing an effort large enough to provide medical care to an estimated 3,000 individuals over a nine-day span are significant, and the joint effort speaks toward the interoperability separate branches of the U.S. Armed Forces employ.
“The sheer magnitude of getting an operation such as this off the ground is staggering,” she said. “But our supply and logistics team has answered every call, and enabled the providers to serve this community.”
Cajun Care 2014 Assistant Officer in Charge and Navy Element Lead Lt. Cmdr. Sherri Hoskins, MSC, said the ability of the joint team to work together resulted an extremely smooth first day of operations.
“Every aspect of this mission - from our logistics and supplies to patient flow and care provided - has been streamlined,” she said. “We truly are working as a team, and these Sailors and Airmen are some of the best their service has to offer.”
In addition to providing services at the clinic - a facility formerly used as a nursing home - Hoskins said numerous community outreach efforts have been put into place, including visits to schools, churches and other organizations to provide training on various public health issues.
“We hope to use our skills to bring a lasting positive effect to the community,” she said.
Cajun Care 2014 Navy Element Senior Enlisted Adviser Chief Hospital Corpsman Jessie Reyes said IRT missions such as this provide unique opportunities for Hospital Corpsmen to integrate into other roles within a joint environment.