An official website of the United States government
A .mil website belongs to an official U.S. Department of Defense organization in the United States.
A lock (lock ) or https:// means you’ve safely connected to the .mil website. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites.

U.S., Paraguay close AMISTAD 2025 with strengthened partnerships, improved readiness

  • Published
  • By Andrea Jenkins
  • Air Forces Southern Public Affairs
LUQUE, Paraguay --  

United States and Paraguayan military leaders, healthcare professionals, and community members gathered at General Hospital of Luque, Aug. 14, to celebrate the conclusion of AMISTAD 2025.

The two-week medical readiness exercise enhanced interoperability, expanded healthcare access, and reinforced enduring partnerships between the two nations. Active duty, reserve and civilian medical professionals worked side by side in clinics, hospitals, and community centers across Paraguay, delivering primary care, dental services, vision screenings, surgical procedures and biomedical equipment repairs.

In addition to direct patient care, the teams exchanged expertise in disaster response, trauma care and preventive medicine - skills essential to responding together in future crises.

Orlando Mestre Gonzalez, Paraguayan medical student and AMISTAD volunteer, discusses patient intake with U.S. Air Force Staff Sgt. Wutchu Ung at Unidad de Salud de la Familia Inmaculada Concepción in Luque, Paraguay, Aug. 11, 2025. During AMISTAD 2025, volunteers were essential to connecting medical teams with patients by providing translation and administrative support. (U.S. Air Force photo by Andrea Jenkins)

AMISTAD 2025: Paraguayan Students Bridge Language, Knowledge

Orlando Mestre Gonzalez, Paraguayan medical student and AMISTAD volunteer, discusses patient intake with U.S. Air Force Staff Sgt. Wutchu Ung at Unidad de Salud de la Familia Inmaculada Concepción in Luque, Paraguay, Aug. 11, 2025. During AMISTAD 2025, volunteers were essential to connecting medical teams with patients by providing translation and administrative support. (U.S. Air Force photo by Andrea Jenkins)
Photo Details / Download Hi-Res
Boxes of prescription eyeglasses are displayed during a donation ceremony at the Unidad de Salud de la Familia Tarumandy in Luque, Paraguay, Aug. 13, 2025. More than 17,000 pairs were provided by U.S. Southern Command and the U.S. Embassy, ensuring residents with vision impairments receive potentially life-altering support. (U.S. Air Force photo by Andrea Jenkins)

U.S., Paraguay strengthen healthcare partnership with dental suite, eyeglasses donation

Boxes of prescription eyeglasses are displayed during a donation ceremony at the Unidad de Salud de la Familia Tarumandy in Luque, Paraguay, Aug. 13, 2025. More than 17,000 pairs were provided by U.S. Southern Command and the U.S. Embassy, ensuring residents with vision impairments receive potentially life-altering support. (U.S. Air Force photo by Andrea Jenkins)
Photo Details / Download Hi-Res

AMISTAD 2025 is tailored to each host nation’s needs identified by its Ministry of Health. The goals were to improve interoperability, increase medical readiness, and build the trusted relationships necessary for nations to respond together in times of crisis.

“This exercise is not just about readiness - it’s about relationships,” said U.S. Air Force Col. Brian Gavitt, Air Forces Southern command surgeon. “Our U.S. and Paraguayan teams worked side-by-side treating patients and tackling hard problems - both clinical and non-clinical - to make sure the mission was a success. The collaboration our teams had with their Paraguayan colleagues, the Ministries, and the Embassy showed that we’re stronger together, and I hope the relationships formed will last long after the team departs.”

Lt. Col. Lisa Haik, AMISTAD 2025 mission commander, underscored the human dimension of the work.

“I will never forget the patient who traveled four hours for care, or the joy on the face of a man who received the gift of restored vision,” Haik said. “These moments remind us that AMISTAD is about partnership with purpose - serving communities, enhancing capabilities, and preparing together for the challenges of tomorrow. We arrived as partners, but we depart as friends.”

Over the course of the mission, joint medical teams treated more than 1,100 patients, performing 740 non-surgical and 93 surgical procedures. Dentists provided extractions and restorative care, optometry teams conducted hundreds of eye exams and distributed glasses, and surgeons carried out procedures that restored quality of life for patients who otherwise lacked access.

Biomedical technicians repaired more than 30 pieces of medical equipment - including four dental chairs - ensuring hospitals could continue serving patients long after the mission ended. U.S. medics logged more than 4,000 hours of pre-deployment training, while Paraguayan and U.S. professionals exchanged knowledge across multiple specialties. The total value of care delivered during AMISTAD 2025 was estimated at more than $140,000.

U.S. Air Force Lt. Col. Alexandra Hernandez, 507th Medical Squadron dentist, right, and a dental technician, perform an extraction on a patient at the Unidad de Salud de la Familia Tarumandy in Luque, Paraguay, Aug. 13, 2025. The U.S. Southern Command and U.S. Embassy in Asuncion donated a fully equipped dental suite and 17,000 pairs of prescription eyeglasses to the Ministry of Health, expanding care for local residents. (U.S. Air Force photo by Andrea Jenkins)

U.S., Paraguay strengthen healthcare partnership with dental suite, eyeglasses donation

U.S. Air Force Lt. Col. Alexandra Hernandez, 507th Medical Squadron dentist, right, and a dental technician, perform an extraction on a patient at the Unidad de Salud de la Familia Tarumandy in Luque, Paraguay, Aug. 13, 2025. The U.S. Southern Command and U.S. Embassy in Asuncion donated a fully equipped dental suite and 17,000 pairs of prescription eyeglasses to the Ministry of Health, expanding care for local residents. (U.S. Air Force photo by Andrea Jenkins)
Photo Details / Download Hi-Res
U.S. and Paraguayan medical teams pose for a group photo after a donation ceremony at the Unidad de Salud de la Familia Tarumandy in Luque, Paraguay, Aug. 13, 2025. U.S. Southern Command and the U.S. Embassy donated a full dental suite and thousands of prescription eyeglasses, strengthening healthcare partnerships. (U.S. Air Force photo by Andrea Jenkins)

U.S., Paraguay strengthen healthcare partnership with dental suite, eyeglasses donation

U.S. and Paraguayan medical teams pose for a group photo after a donation ceremony at the Unidad de Salud de la Familia Tarumandy in Luque, Paraguay, Aug. 13, 2025. U.S. Southern Command and the U.S. Embassy donated a full dental suite and thousands of prescription eyeglasses, strengthening healthcare partnerships. (U.S. Air Force photo by Andrea Jenkins)
Photo Details / Download Hi-Res

Paraguayan Minister of Health Teresa Barán praised the collaboration and its impact on her nation’s people.

“AMISTAD 25 brought health and hope to those who needed it most,” Barán said. “Together, U.S. and Paraguayan professionals treated more than 1,100 patients across dentistry, ophthalmology, trauma, surgery and emergencies - all completely free of charge. Beyond patient care, our teams trained side by side and repaired essential medical equipment, multiplying the impact well beyond the mission days.

"We are proud to be part of this noble cause, which improves lives and strengthens the bonds of friendship and cooperation that unite Paraguay and the United States," added Barán.

U.S. Army Maj. Gen. Javier Reina, Deputy Commander for Mobilization and Reserve Affairs, U.S. Southern Command, emphasized that AMISTAD 2025 was about more than statistics.

“Over the past two weeks, we stood shoulder-to-shoulder as professionals, building friendships that will last well beyond this mission,” Reina said.

“Thank you for allowing us to stand at your side in every way as you provided incredible medical care. Your professionalism, dedication, and willingness to collaborate are what made this mission such a success. We didn’t just work alongside each other - we lived together, learned together, and made a difference together.”

AMISTAD 2025 will conclude with a final phase in Panama in September, where U.S. and partner-nation medical teams will continue readiness training, patient care, and professional exchanges. The culminating events will build on lessons learned in Paraguay and further strengthen regional collaboration ahead of future humanitarian assistance and disaster response missions.