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| U.S. Army Africa sponsors medical readiness exercises in several different countries on the African continent. Known as MEDRETEs, these exercises are similar to this exercise that took place in Zanzibar, Tanzania. Hundreds of Zanzibar citizens headed to the Military Hospital in Bububu to receive free cataract surgery in support of the MEDRETE lead by American doctors. After days of screening and a 20 minute surgery, 150 patients were given an eye patch, 24 hours to heal and a new outlook on life. (U.S. Army Africa photo by Sgt. Terysa M. King). | |||
USARAF sponsored MEDRETE set for Benin
By Rich Bartell, U.S. Army Africa Public Affairs
VICENZA, Italy – Planning for upcoming U.S. Army Africa sponsored medical readiness and training exercises known as MEDRETEs are in full swing. Recently, planners visited Cotonou, Benin to lay the groundwork for a two-week long, January MEDRETE.
Walter Murrell, an exercise planning specialist with USARAF said the Benin MEDERETE will bring together a team of military and civilian medical professionals featuring humanitarian outreach.
“MEDRETE 13-1 will be conducted by a small combined team of medical professionals from the U.S. and Benin. Our team will consist of Active and Reserve Soldiers. Benin Armed Forces, and civilian medical personnel. Additionally, a small liaison team of Soldiers will support exercise logistics functions,” Murrell said.
Col. Corrine Davis, USARAF deputy command surgeon, explains the main goals of the exercise.
“The Benin MEDRETE gives U.S. medical staff an opportunity to practice clinical skills with a patient population they don’t routinely encounter,” Davis said. “Additionally, exercises like this provide a forum for exchange of information on key diseases between U.S. and host nation medical personnel.”
According to Murrell, MEDRETE 13-1 in Benin will focus on two main areas of medical care.
“During the exercise, medical personnel will concentrate on infectious disease and public health clinical activities,” Murrell said.
Murrell said the first week of the exercise has additional goals of developing mentorship and training relationships along with the exchange of medical information on public health care. He added that other U.S. and Benin agencies have been asked to participate in the exercise.
“Along with Benin military medical staff, we’ve invited several regional stakeholder organizations to take part in MEDRETE 13-1; such as the Benin Ministry of Defense and Ministry of Health, along with the U.S. Agency for International Development known as USAID,” Murrell said.
He elaborated on some of the planned outcomes of the first week of training.
“This event gives U.S. military personnel training in clinical and public health prevention strategies used by the Benin military healthcare system,” Murrell said. “It also provides support to our host nation military hospital for the duration of the exercise by assisting with some of the routine medical care activities.”
During the second week, activities will focus on public health and disease surveillance.
“Our planned activities in week two of the exercise include direct patient care and academic training focused on malaria, tuberculosis and HIV. These direct care activities will be conducted with physicians at a selected hospital and integrated into regular hospital based activities,” Murrell said.
Davis explains the overarching desired outcome of the MEDRETE 13-1 and exercises like it that take place on the African continent.
“In Benin, we want to help the medical community build capacity to fight infectious disease. After research and discussion, we’ve identified this as an area where we can help improve Benin’s care delivery. There are several infectious diseases we can help with TB, HIV, malaria…you name it. But generally speaking, we want to help build capacity and learn as much as we can from our host nation medical partners,” Davis said. of the Army. The IG’s self-described mission is “to inquire into, and periodically report on, the discipline, efficiency, economy, morale, training and readiness throughout the Army.”