Photo By Petty Officer 1st Class Maria Olvera Tristan | U.S. Navy Rear Adm. Brian S. Pecha, command surgeon, U.S. Pacific Command,...... read more read more
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BONIFACIO GLOBAL CITY, Manila – Medical professionals from the Armed Forces of the Philippines, U.S. Armed Forces, Japan Self-Defense Forces, and Australian Defence Force came together to share doctrines, procedures, best practices and techniques during a medical symposium in support of Balikatan 2017 May 10, 2017.
During the three-day symposium, presenters shared information and learned about each other’s cultures and military medical practices. By training for humanitarian assistance and disaster relief operations, the multi-national forces are better prepared to provide relief to remote areas of the Philippines.
“The objective is to build interoperability between U.S. and AFP forces in the field of medicine and to increase knowledge through exchanges and to share our experiences of field trauma from [Operation Iraqi Freedom /Operation Enduring Freedom],” said U.S. Navy Lt. Cmdr. Jeremy D. Wilkinson, medical planer, operations and engagements officer, U.S. Marine Corps Forces, Pacific.
Medical practitioners jumped at the opportunity to learn from each other and to discuss scenarios similar to a natural disaster. These scenarios included sharing experiences with trauma surgery in a combat zone.
“We are going to learn about some of the best practices in surgical procedures for those in trauma scenarios,” Pecha said.
New representatives from Japan joined the Balikatan exercise in the medical arena, making the symposium vitally important to the interoperability exchange that will strengthen the already solid relationship between Philippine, U.S., Australian and Japanese health partners.
“Today in this Balikatan 2017 medical symposium, we will further strengthen our countries’ relationship, and enhance our capabilities,” said Armed Forces of the Philippines Brig. Gen. Joseph M. Acosta, surgeon general, AFP. “This bilateral exercise is always evolving, making it unique and dynamic.”
The involvement from the medical symposium benefits international partnerships.
“This medical symposium is beneficial to partner nations, we cooperate for the common purpose of international humanitarian support,” said Lt. Col. Toshihiro Yamasaki, Deputy Surgeon Japan Ground Self Defense Force.
“The great thing about this symposium is that [it] allows us to discuss with our colleagues, in a more informal environment, the way we provide service care,” said Australian Army Maj. Katherine Gibson, surgeon general, Australian Defence Force. “I find it quite reassuring how it reinforces the strong points of what we are doing right, but allows us also to learn new ways to do things.”
The medical professionals were able to discuss the needs that would arise in the event of a natural disaster and how best to provide humanitarian assistance and disaster relief.
“The end state is to build operational surgical capacity and to develop surgeons and staff. This process will allow for the start-up of an operational surgical capability in the Philippines,” said Wilkinson.
The continued training efforts between the militaries involved in Balikatan, ensure that the combined forces remain ready to rapidly deploy in response to crises.
| Date Taken: | 05.10.2017 |
| Date Posted: | 05.17.2017 00:43 |
| Story ID: | 234097 |
| Location: | MANILA , PH |
| Web Views: | 199 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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