Photo By Michael Wimbish | During 2015 humanitarian exercises, U.S. military medical personnel provided health...... read more read more
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DORAL, Fla. - In 2015, U.S. military medical professionals provided health care to more than 150,000 people in 14 nations in Latin America and the Caribbean during humanitarian-focused training exercises.
The multinational exercises – including stops in 11 nations by the hospital ship USNS Comfort during the Continuing Promise 2015 humanitarian and civic assistance deployment – are part of a long-standing U.S. military humanitarian training program with partner nations in the region.
The medical efforts generally take place in rural areas and are coordinated with the host nation and other U.S. government agencies. These training events enhance readiness of U.S. military personnel and host nation medical forces, provide free medical treatment to communities and attempt to improve the overall level of care of the host nation’s healthcare system.
The medical exercises this year provided one or more of the following services:
• General surgery
• Specialized treatment and surgery
• Basic medical evaluation and treatment
• Preventive medicine treatment
• Dental screenings and treatment
• Optometry screenings & eyewear distribution
• Public health training
Small teams of U.S. military personnel provided free care for nearly 38,000 people during 36 Medical Readiness Training Exercises (MEDRETEs) or Medical Civic Action Program (MEDCAP) exercises in seven nations during Fiscal Year 2015. Many of those medical exercises were embedded in the larger Beyond the Horizon and New Horizon humanitarian exercises.
During Continuing Promise 2015 from April - September, the medical team from USNS Comfort treated more than 120,000 people during mission stops in 11 nations. Comfort’s diverse medical team included U.S. military medical personnel, doctors and nurses from private aid organizations and partner nation health officials.
In addition to the medical services, the medical exercises provide veterinary care, livestock vaccinations and help to local farmers. These critical services help prevent diseases that could be passed from animals to humans.
| Date Taken: | 12.16.2015 |
| Date Posted: | 12.16.2015 11:21 |
| Story ID: | 184669 |
| Location: | US |
| Web Views: | 157 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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