U.S. Ambassador Closes Humanitarian Mission in Cartagena

July 24, 2009

U.S. Ambassador Closes Humanitarian Mission in Cartagena

William Brownfield, U.S. Ambassador to Colombia, attended the closing ceremony of Beyond the Horizon, a humanitarian mission that benefitted over 4,000 people in Cartagena. The mission was carried out by Army Reserve servicemen who also provided medical services at the Navy Hospital, organized health brigades at the Omaira Sanchez School and remodeled the La Candelaria Day Care Center.

At the Navy Hospital, a team of surgeons performed over 60 cleft lip-and-palate surgeries. They even managed to save a man from a heart attack, who received timely CPR and was later transferred to a special-care medical center.

The health brigades held at the Omaira Sanchez School served over 3,000 people who received basic medical, dental and eye care. The team also trained 800 people in preventive medicine.

At the La Candelaria Day Care Center, military engineers installed new floors, sidewalks and refitted both the electric wiring and draining systems. They also painted the façade and exterior walls.

Beyond the Horizon is an initiative that seeks to strengthen bi-national ties between the United States and the Caribbean. In Cartagena, it was supported by other organizations including: the Binational Center, the Colombian Navy, the faculties of Medicine, Infirmary, and Dentistry at the University of Cartagena, the Empresa Social del Estado Cartagena de Indias, and the Grupo Extramural Salud a tu Alcance.