A clearinghouse of the U.S. Africa Command's senior leader's updates on issues important at AFRICOM.
We encourage your comments and feedback.
Click here to see our public feedback
On 1/7/2009 1:09:36 PM Dr. (Col) Schuyler Geller wrote
As the Command Surgeon and Medical Division Chief for the Operations and Logistics Directorate (OPL), U.S. Africa Command, I am very excited to announce that on January 8 and 9, 2009 at the National Academy of Science - Institute of Medicine, the International Health division of the office of the Assistant Secretary of Defense for Health Affairs [ASD(HA)] will sponsor an important conference for the Office of the Command Surgeon, U. S. Africa Command.
The ASD(HA), Dr. S. Ward Casscells, will personally open the proceedings that will have as its theme: Health as a Bridge to Peace and Stability. There will be many senior leaders including the US Health Attache to the African Union (AU) who will explore the health threats in Africa and how the AU might interface in that arena regionally with implications for Africa Command. This will have impacts on how health impacts human security in Africa. And from USAID, the Deputy Assistant Administrator for Africa will lead a particularly informative panel that will present how USG supported community based program addresses drivers of conflict and how host nation capacity to deliver services might be improved by the strengthening of national supply chains.
The Deputy Director, Telemedicine and Advanced Technology Research Center (TATRC) will provide the latest on emerging technologies that can transform health in Africa and a follow-on discussion will provide some potential programatics regarding mobile health solutions using cell phone technology will provide some potential support to partner nations military health professionals. The Director of the Defense Center of Excellence for Psychological Health and Traumatic Brain Injury as well as a member from the European Union will delivery stimulating briefings during the first days working lunch.
Of particular interest is that one of the most enduring programs of the DoD in Africa has now come under the purview of U.S. Africa Command through our Army component, SETAF. That, of course, is our laboratory presence in Kenya supported by the Walter Reed Army Institute of Research (WRAIR) and the Deputy Director of WRAIR will speak on the impact of medical research on stability operations as evidenced by their persistent engagement. Pandemic surveillance has been one of the strong capabilities that will be addressed and its significant role in capacity building across the spectrum of partner nations public healthcare systems.
Members of OPL-Med and the Programs Division of the Strategy, Plans and Programs (SPP) Directorate from U.S. Africa Command will attend in addition to the many military, national and international health leaders. The conference will seek to bring together many stimulating professionals who have spent much time and effort in support of public health in Africa and will discuss difficult, but important, operational challenges across the spectrum of healthcare, its potential as a bridge to peace and stability and how U. S. Africa Command might best support the ongoing whole of government approach to the many outstanding and successful public health efforts within our partner nations.
This important symposium will bring people from many agencies together to provide valuable information and advice to the U. S. Africa Command Surgeons office on providing the best support to the persistent and sustained level of effort necessary for successful engagement and reinforce the three founding principles as stated by the Commander, U.S. Africa Command, GEN William Kip Ward, in December of 2007:
(1). Build the team and take the opportunity, vision, and determination to redefine how the U.S. military cooperates with and complements the efforts of its U.S., international, and non-governmental partners in Africa; (2). Add value and do no harm to the collective and substantial on going efforts on the Continent; and (3). Build partnerships to enable the work of Africans to provide for their own security and build mutual trust, respect, and confidence with our partners on the Continent and our international friends.
The DoD assigns Stability, Security, Transition & Reconstruction Operations (SSTRO) the same importance in planning and resourcing as it assigns to other operations. International Health develops health-related SSTRO policy for DoD, and works with relevant US agencies, foreign governments, global and regional international organizations, US and foreign non-governmental organizations, academics, and private sector individuals and for-profit companies to improve health conditions and enhance stability worldwide. Recognizing the unparalleled expertise of many of these organizations in their specialty disciplines and geographic regions, International Health serves as a facilitator for their efforts.
On 9/13/2009 4:36:36 AM Nancy in Unspecified wrote Improving health and living conditions can gain trust that will open the door to education. The people of Africa can then be taught to sustain health with improved sanitation and nutrition. This can provide the catalyst for improved productivity in farming that can help feed a starving nation.
Wonderful work. I wish I could be a part of it.
On 1/24/2009 5:18:38 PM Jim Dolbow in Alexandria, VA wrote The U.S. Southern Command (SOUTHCOM) recently signed an MOU with the U.S. Public Health Service regarding Global public health diplomacy. HAs AFRICOM signed one with USPHS? Thanks
On 1/9/2009 11:00:05 PM Ryan in US wrote Amazing. This is why it is so important to win the spirits of the world.
We have the abitlity to end many problems in the world via technology. Our technology will be the bridge between the culture gaps. But this wont happen until a real level of stability return to central Africa. Until then anything we do will only be a bandaid.
On 1/7/2009 2:53:54 PM Michael in Alexandria, VA wrote As an American, it's gratifying to see resources put toward bettering the health of African citizens. We hear too much about our national budget being wasted bailouts, frivolous spending, pork. It's time we started hearing about some of the good work we're doing, and this article hits the mark.
Initiating these discussions and cooperation can not only produce a profound impact on the African continent, but can also help us average Americans gain back some of the pride we've lost over the past eight years. There can be no better bridge to peace than mutual trust, respect, and cooperation.
This article makes me proud to be part of a great nation capable of great things.
PA mission to Ethiopia 1/8/2011 · By Airman 1st Class Jevon Smith
Combined Joint Task Force-Horn of Africa strategic communication combat camera videographer
VETCAP in Negele 1/8/2011 · Captain David Creech
402nd Civil Affairs Battalion functional specialty team veterinarian
Visiting Our Teams over the Holidays 1/4/2011 · Rear Admiral Brian Losey, commander, and Captain John Dixon, chief of staff, Combined Joint Task Force Horn of Africa
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)
Herman in Pretoria wrote on 9/23/2012 5:46:33 PM "Awesome aircraft, thank you for the display! It is most appreciated...." (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)