Military doctors conduct infectious diseases training in Panama
Publio Gonzalez, a biologist with the Gorgas Institute, holds a bat in Meteti, Panama. Gonzalez and U.S. military doctors were participating in infectious diseases training, in which they received informational lectures from Panamanian infectious disease experts and field studies of possible virus-carrying wildlife and insects. The event took place during Exercise New Horizons 2018, which is a joint training exercise where U.S. military members conduct training in civil engineer, medical and support services while benefiting the local community. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Dustin Mullen)
PANAMA CITY, Panama — A team of U.S. military doctors, public health specialists and members of other career fields participated in infectious diseases training here, recently.
The training took place during Exercise New Horizons 2018, which is a joint training exercise where U.S. military members conduct training in civil engineer, medical and support services while benefiting the local community. The training consisted of briefings, lectures and a day of field study.
In collaboration with the Gorgas Institute, University of Panama and the Panamanian Ministry of Health, the team studied various diseases, the vectors that carry them and the ways Panama is combating the diseases.
“Infectious diseases are a huge issue for U.S. Southern Command when it thinks about force health protection in this region,” said Air Force Lt. Col. Brian Neese, 346th Expeditionary Medical Operations Squadron commander. “We wanted to look at infectious diseases from the many different disciplines that come into it. Clinical medicine, preventative medicine, public health, laboratory specialties, expeditionary capabilities with aerospace medicine and collaboration with Global Health Specialists from the Navy. We brought all that together in this event.”
A team of U.S. Air Force members and biologists with the Gorgas Institute in Panama, check a rodent trap June in Meteti, Panama. The doctors were participating in an Emerging Infectious Diseases Training Event, in which they received informational lectures from Panamanian infectious disease experts and field studies of possible virus carrying wildlife and insects. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Dustin Mullen)Lectures From Disease Experts
Throughout the week, the U.S. military doctors participated in lectures from Panamanian infectious disease experts and field studies of possible virus-carrying wildlife and insects.
Such training opportunities enable military doctors to expand their cross-cultural and global health knowledge.
“I have been really struck by the strategic importance of Panama in the United States’ biosecurity,” said Air Force Lt. Col. (Dr.) Heather Yun, 346 EMDOS infectious disease physician. “There are a lot of biological threats here in Central America or that try to come here from South America through human migration.”
Due to the geographic location of Panama, the importance the country places on controlling diseases greatly benefits the Unites States, as well as other Central American countries.
“Panamanian efforts to halt infectious disease transmission functions as a barrier for transmission of viruses such as yellow fever,” Yun said, noting Panama’s disease control methods. “If we didn’t have that kind of surveillance here, then the U.S. would be at increased risk of encroachment from a lot of vector-borne diseases.”
The agency leading the disease research efforts is the Gorgas Institute. Founded in 1929, this world-renowned organization’s mission is to promote public health and contribute to research and teaching for the benefit of the population.
“The first thing that strikes me about Panamanians is that they are extremely organized, particularly the Gorgas Institute, which is a jewel,” said Air Force Lt. Col Mark Breidenbaugh, 346 EMDOS entomologist. “They have quality people and are funded at a level where they can do the work they need to do. They are doing cutting-edge molecular biology so they can recognize genetic material in their samples and therefore recognize exactly what kind of virus they are working with.”
Working With Panamanian Doctors
Getting the opportunity to work with Panamanian doctors can better equip U.S. doctors to recognize and react to various tropical diseases.
“Anytime you go overseas to a different culture, different language and a different way of doing things, it only increases readiness,” Yun said. “Because of the assets they have here, there is a lot of direct translatability between what we do in the U.S. We are always looking for ways to collaborate on research projects.”
Beyond just tropical diseases, creating bonds between the different specialties and organizations can aid in future research.
“I am thankful to come down here and do this because I believe in the global health interactions we are doing,” Breidenbaugh said. “In one sense, we are all diplomats. We are representing our country on an individual basis. I have already had requests from Panamanians to put them in touch with certain researchers I know.”
Disclaimer: Re-published content may have been edited for length and clarity. Read original post.
Project Sea Raven delivers cutting-edge pathogen detection technology
Article
5/31/2018
Project Sea Raven is now an integral part of USNS Mercy’s microbiology capacity
Air Force medical team supports exercise in Panama
Article
5/29/2018
The medical team has been working closely with Panamanian dentists
USNS Mercy arrives in Vietnam for Pacific Partnership
Article
5/23/2018
Pacific Partnership is the largest annual multilateral HA/DR preparedness mission conducted in the Indo-Pacific
Airmen contribute to saving a life during New Horizons 2018
Article
5/17/2018
Airmen go above and beyond to save a local woman
New Horizons embedded health engagement provides unparalleled training
Article
5/15/2018
For medical professionals participating in Exercise New Horizons 2018, hands-on training comes in the form of fully submerging into local clinics
Multinational surgeons participate in first robot-assisted surgery onboard USNS Mercy
Article
5/7/2018
A joint team of multinational surgeons successfully completed a gall bladder removal, using a Da Vinci XI Robot Surgical System
Navy audiologist contributes to Pacific Partnership
Article
4/17/2018
One participant can claim to have the most firsthand experience with the Micronesian islands
In it together: Fighting global health threats takes partnerships
Article
4/12/2018
McCaffery discusses importance of Global Health Security Agenda in U.K.
2018 Visit to U.S. Africa Command's Command Surgeon
Photo
4/11/2018
Acting Assistant Secretary of Defense for Health Affairs Tom McCaffery visits U.S. Africa Command's Command Surgeon and team to discuss the strategic context of global health in advancing shared security objectives with partner nations across the region. The Department of Defense recognizes that Global Health Engagement activities play a key role to ...
2018 Medical Support Operations Conference
Photo
4/11/2018
Acting Assistant Secretary of Defense for Health Affairs Tom McCaffery spoke at the 2018 Medical Support Operations Conference in London, delivering remarks on the defense sector's role in advancing the Global Health Security Agenda. A partnership of more than 60 nations, the Global Health Security Agenda, or GHSA, brings together the unique roles of ...
Preventive medicine saving lives
Article
3/28/2018
Public health is an essential part of daily life
USNS Mercy delivers medical supplies to Ulithi Atoll
Article
3/21/2018
This is the first official engagement of Pacific Partnership 2018, where the Mercy will be sailing near Ulithi Atoll and using helicopters to deliver medical supplies
Preventive medicine unit supports first USAFRICOM trilateral medical exchange in Angola
Article
3/14/2018
Exercicio PAMBALA 2017 represented the first time that the U.S. has been invited to participate in an engagement such as this in Angola
U.S. forces conduct a cooperative health engagement in Thailand
Article
3/14/2018
Cobra Gold 18 is an annual exercise conducted in the Kingdom of Thailand
The Department of Veterinary Science institutionalizes Global Health Engagement training
Article
1/25/2018
The Department of Veterinary Science at the U.S. Army Medical Department Center and School. Health Readiness Center of Excellence, is driving change by preparing Veterinary Corps Officers to plan and execute GHE activities in support of Theater Security Cooperation
.png)
No hay comentarios:
Publicar un comentario