U.S., Burundi partner for first of two Military Medical Readiness Exercises in 2024

Photo By Master Sgt. Dave Thompson | Members of the Burundi National Defence Force welcomed a U.S. Army Medical team from the 44th Medical Brigade and 39th Forward Resuscitative Surgical Detachment during a tour of the the L’Hopital Militaire Kamenge in Bujumbura, Burundi, April 8, 2024. The team of 20 U.S. Army medical personnel are partnering with Burundian medical professionals for Military Medical Readiness Exercise Burundi 24-3, a bi-lateral medical readiness exercise. They will provide treatment to military and civilian patients in the Bujumbura communities April 8-26, 2024. MEDREX is a medical training exercise, planned and executed by the U.S. Army Southern European Task Force, Africa (SETAF-AF), that allows military medical personnel from the U.S. Army and their African partners to exchange medical practices, procedures and techniques that build and strengthen treatment capabilities, resulting in lasting relationships between medical professionals. (U.S. Army photos by Master Sgt. Dave Thompson)  

BUJUMBURA, BURUNDI

04.08.2024

Story by Master Sgt. Dave Thompson 

U.S. Army Southern European Task Force, Africa

Bujumbura, Burundi – The Burundi National Defense Force, in partnership with U.S. Army Southern European Task Force, Africa (SETAF-AF), the 44th Medical Brigade and 39th Forward Resuscitative Surgical Detachment, are hosting a Medical Readiness Exercise (MEDREX) at the L’Hopital Militaire Kamenge in Bujumbura, April, 8-26, 2024.
This is the second of eight MEDREXs scheduled for the African continent in fiscal year 2024 by the SSETAF-AF, which will include a second MEDREX in Burundi slated for mid-July. SETAF-AF coordinates each MEDREX with African militaries and U.S.-based military medical providers in order to enhance the medical capabilities of the participants.
“On behalf of the United States Embassy, I would like to thank [the Burundi National Defense Force] for allowing us to partner with them for this important medical exercise,” said U.S. Army Lt. Col. Ryan Howry, U.S. Embassy defense attaché, during the opening ceremony. “This is a true exchange of medical practices and last year when we did this, the teams learned significantly from each other and had a wonderful time.”
During the three-week exercise, the teams of U.S. and Burundi military medical professionals will collaborate while working shoulder to shoulder to provide care to patients in the community. They will offer a wide range of medical services, from general surgery, anesthesiology and operating room procedures to obstetrics and gynecology, emergency room care and bio engineering equipment repair.
The 20-person U.S. Army medical team is comprised of doctors, nurses, medics and bio equipment technicians from units across the United States.
This bi-lateral exercise will allow the U.S. and Burundi military teams to exchange medical techniques and procedures that build and strengthen treatment capabilities resulting in a ready medical force and strengthened relationships between the partners.

• Date Taken: 04.08.2024
• Date Posted: 04.12.2024 05:33
• Story ID: 468357
• Location: BUJUMBURA, BI