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COD TIMES, THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 30, 1982 • •
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<br /> Agent Ocreenin
<br /> � V
<br /> rom is call fora
<br /> services
<br /> ' By ANNE HYDE nized as a group," added outreach Ro the Ca a would willingly Y P g Y Participate on a commit-
<br /> worker- Special Writer Pacheco. "This is all very nice, but it's the first- tee that worked with Cape Cod Hospital and the VA
<br /> :HYANNIS -More than 100 Vietnam veterans time it's been done."Pacheco has been working on to bring the services closer to the community.
<br /> were tested for Agent Orange poisoning yesterday the Cape as part of,a three-month program that He noted that the government, .by.law, is re- 4
<br /> " - will not be renewed for lack of money, 'quired to offer contractual services to an veteran
<br /> r,.. in a federally sponsored public clinic to screen for y y
<br /> r.' theeffeetsof.thetoxicherbicide. "'They are going tobeasking, 'What .comes Giving outside a 50-mite radius of,pecmanent VA
<br /> ' ^next?'And this is it,"said Pacheco. facilities, and said such services are being ro-
<br /> The day-long clinic at Whitcomb Pavilion on � - g P
<br /> Ca a Cod. Hospital The screening, .which included-blood tests;and vided in other places. -
<br /> p p' .,grounds renewed
<br /> interest in'establishing a permanent center here to 9uestionnaires, was the first step in a two-part I 's not as if we're asking for anything that
<br /> «� m provide health and counseling services to an esti-
<br /> in that will eventuallyoffer follow-up chest doesn't now exist,"said Bangert.
<br /> -° -�'.• _ - mated 16,000 area Vietnam veterans, - 'X-rays,skin examinations.and complete physicals. "They can't afford to have us come in.here en
<br /> :Many of the veterans attending, however, .said ` +It's an unusual response on the part of the Vet- masse and file a class action suit.They could have
<br /> � erans Administration. I n't nk is a
<br /> _ _ F, they were not optimistic That the Veterans Admin- - ' do fid i terrible .16,000 to 20,000 claims and you're talking about j
<br /> istration's first attempt to bring service closer to —response, but I"don't think it's.ideal.,,.said David billions of dollars,"said Michael Willianls of plym-
<br /> the Cape would continue.Most who
<br /> ., - �, ,took part in the ,Harrington,.
<br /> n,.director of Cape Cod Hospital's de- :`outh.Williams said he decided to participate in the
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<br /> screening huddled ingroupsto voice disillusion- .p of social services,.which helped sponsor ,.,screening program-becausehe has experienced
<br /> went with the system. And many said it would be ' the Program. . ;numbness in his hands — widely thought to be a
<br /> difficult,if not impossible, them to travel the 70 Harrington a Vietnam veteran, said the social -symptom of Agent a poisoning and be-
<br /> P g g g P g —
<br /> �.. miles to the VA center in Brockton for the follow-up - services department offered the use of hospital cause he saw-a film about Agent Orange, leading
<br /> tests required. - - 'facilities and staff for-the entire.program, includ- 'him to believe he was'directly exposed to.the
<br /> _Agent Orange is the toxic herbicide that the U.S. ing the follow-up tests required,but the VA-agreed chemical. l
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<br /> government sprayed over jungles in Vietnam from only to stage the initial screening on the Cape. . - 'Williams said he suffered a blister rash on his 'I
<br /> 1962 to 1971. It contains dioxin, a-carcinogen that Longtime activist Joe Bangert said he estimates .face.and arms two days after direct spraying of ;
<br /> ...: has been shown to cause deformities in offspring of that less than 60 percent of those-screened yester :Agent Orange in the area where he was stationed in
<br /> animals exposed to high doses. .day would be able to make the 70-mile trip to the - - Vietnam in March 1968.
<br /> More than 1-1,000 Vietnam veterans have filed Brockton medical center, the closest VA facility, Those attending yesterday's session were asked
<br /> claims with the Veterans Administration for dis- forthefollow-up tests. "This is the largest group of to fill out questionnaires describing the number of
<br /> ability compensation for symptoms they say-relate Vietnam veterans that I've seen pass.through Cape times they were exposed to the toxic herbicide,
<br /> LOOKING FOR TROUBLE—Richard Grigerick a Vietnam veter- to Agent Orange. Cod sinceI'vebeenhere,"said Bangert. where they were exposed and any side effects
<br /> an from Hyannis, is tested.for possible side effects from exposure to - "It's been hit or miss on the Cape;" said Al :He said the large turnout "manifests a need on - suffered.. -
<br /> the toxic herbicide Agent Orange by-Debbie Andrews, a phleboto- Diamond, a VA employee who has been part of a Cape Cod for v teran services," particularly "This may well be an exercise*in,futility," said
<br /> mist with the Veterans Administration in Brockton. Grigerick was - two-member outreach team working with ve Brans health services, t deal with such, problems as Paul Cooper, a disabled Vietnam veteran from
<br /> one of more than 100 veterans who attended the screening yester- on Cape Cod."'The need here is great. It' (the Agent Orange and ounseling and other psychologi- West Barnstable. Even if there were sufficient
<br /> day at the.W httcomb Pavilion .+ (StafEPhoto by Ron'Schloerb) Capthink
<br /> nk:the Vietnaust not m veterans need to'be c - cal services..$,angert said 100 0 150 V.lena Proof to satisfy the government,he said,there is no
<br /> „ m-era:veierans on -way that just compensation could be paid.
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