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On 7/19/2012 8:54:32 AM Brigadier General Stayce Harris wrote
The following blog is by Brigadier General Stayce Harris, U.S. Africa Command's mobilization reserve assistant to the commander.
Over the past 2 years, I have had the honor of working with AFRICOM/J5's Pandemic Response Program (PRP) run by AFRICOM, funded by USAID and implemented by CDHAM (Center for Disaster and Humanitarian Assistance Medicine). One of Africa Command's strategic objectives is "assisting partner nations with protecting populations from emerging infectious diseases." The role of PRP is to assist in strengthening African partner military nations' capacities to respond to a pandemic in support of their national pandemic response plan. The key themes of PRP are the importance of preparedness for a response, clear command and control in multi-jurisdictional disasters and regional cooperation during a severe pandemic disaster.
I've witnessed this exercise transition and mature, moving from the facilitators and presenters coming from the United States to our most recent exercise in Burkina Faso where the facilitators and presenters were our African partners! What a success, "African solutions for Africa"!
During this Burkina Faso PRP exercise, the Partner Nation's civilian government leaders, military leaders, NGOs, IOs and regional partners that have an expertise in Pandemic Disaster management gather for a week-long tabletop exercise. The exercise "stress tests" and validates the nation's pandemic response plan in areas that include health, security, logistics, communications, operations amongst others areas depending on the nation's requirements. We must keep in mind that health and security issues are closely linked.
In addition to the national exercises, PRP has regional exercises. Regional cooperation is the key as pandemics and disasters know no borders and the stronger the regional communication and cooperation in the event of a pandemic disaster, the greater chance of saving more lives. The regional partnerships enable partners to share their best practices, capabilities and capacities to better work with each other.
It was a pleasure being in Burkina Faso for the last exercise and having the opportunity to visit regional fire brigades Sapeurs Pompiers and the nation's firefighting school in Bobo Dioulasso. The men and women truly live up to their motto of "Sauver ou Perir" (Save or Perish)!
Our women's luncheon in Burkina Faso was a particular highlight, as we bonded in sisterhood and together are committed to saving lives in our nations as well as serving as mentors and positive role models for those (women and men) that follow.
I hold firm to the personal belief that there is no greater duty than "saving lives" and that's what the Pandemic Response Program accomplishes. It enables a nation to test their national disaster response plan in order to maximize the lives saved in the event of a pandemic or other disaster. Thank you for the opportunity to serve with this beneficial and rewarding program and more importantly to create working relationships and lifetime friendships with our African partners!
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From LTC David Knellinger on 9/10/2012 2:02:03 PM "The Central Africa Region Environmental Security Symposium, hosted by the United States Africa Command Environmental Security Program and the United Nations Environmental Programme..." (Read Full Entry)
From Brigadier General Stayce Harris on 7/19/2012 8:54:32 AM "The following blog is by Brigadier General Stayce Harris, U.S. Africa Command's mobilization reserve assistant to the commander.
Over the past 2 years, I have had the..." (Read Full Entry)
From LTC Jim Gotlewski on 7/17/2012 2:13:38 PM "Ghana's 1st International Conference on Pandemics took place June 27-28, 2012 in Accra, Ghana and was co-hosted between the National Disaster Management Organisation (NADMO) and..." (Read Full Entry)
Paul in UK wrote on 8/22/2012 9:16:10 AM "I was also involved in the communications training at Kisangani and share Michel Beya's comments I'm sure we met. What I saw was a very well trained battalion and hope that..." (Read Full Entry)
Mark in Fort Leavenworth wrote on 8/21/2012 10:25:29 PM "False allegations against Commander USAFRICOM appear to be in fashion. It is shameful that someone felt the need to assassinate the character of the previous commander — one ..." (Read Full Entry)
Anonymous in Unspecified wrote on 8/21/2012 10:06:10 PM "Glad to see this, and would love to see more. It's about time we start calling out publications that feel free to write whatever they want based on rumors and myths and not fac..." (Read Full Entry)
Anonymous in Unspecified wrote on 8/21/2012 10:03:43 PM "Congratulations for calling Ethiopian Review on the carpet. The contributor who stated that the clarification was not warranted is clearly very near sighted. It is exactly those so..." (Read Full Entry)
Anonymous in Unspecified wrote on 8/21/2012 3:48:08 AM "The right and accurate response,I am glad you did not give any loopholes to this lameduck, extereme and toxic elements who do not represent the sielent diaspora majority,create and..." (Read Full Entry)
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