They are part of a medical team from the U.S Embassy-Burundi, 44th Medical Brigade, the 240th Forward Resuscitative Surgical Detachment, and the U.S. Army Southern European Task Force, Africa (SETAF-AF) who are partnering with the BNDF for MEDREX Burundi 24-3, a bi-lateral medical readiness exercise held at the Kamenge Military Hospital in Bujumbura, Burundi from April 8-26, 2024. The partners will work side-by-side to provide treatment in a variety of medical specialties to military and civilian patients in the Bujumbura communities.
MEDREX is planned and executed by SETAF-AF and allows military medical personnel from the U.S. Army and their African partners to exchange medical practices, procedures and techniques that build and strengthen treatment capabilities resulting in lasting relationships between medical professionals.(U.S. Army photo courtesy of Lt. Col. Melissa Hartsell-Riester) VIEW ORIGINAL
Garrison facilitated a U.S. Army medical team from the 44th Medical Brigade who are partnering with the Burundi National Defense Force for MEDREX Burundi 24-3, a bi-lateral medical readiness exercise held at the Kamenge Military Hospital in Bujumbura, Burundi, April 8-26, 2024. The partners will work side-by-side to provide treatment in a variety of medical specialties to military and civilian patients in the Bujumbura communities.
MEDREX is planned and executed by the United States Army Southern European Task Force, Africa and allows military medical personnel from the U.S. Army and their African partners to exchange medical practices, procedures and techniques that build and strengthen treatment capabilities resulting in lasting relationships between medical professionals. (U.S. Army photo by Lt. Col. Melissa Hartsell-Riester) VIEW ORIGINAL
Laird is part of a U.S. Army medical team from the 44th Medical Brigade, partnering with the Burundi National Defense Force for MEDREX Burundi 24-3, a bi-lateral medical readiness exercise held at the Kamenge Military Hospital in Bujumbura, Burundi from April 8-26, 2024. The partners will work side-by-side to provide treatment in a variety of medical specialties to military and civilian patients in the Bujumbura communities.
MEDREX is planned and executed by the U.S. Army Southern European Task Force, Africa (SETAF-AF) and allows military medical personnel from the U.S. Army and their African partners to exchange medical practices, procedures and techniques that build and strengthen treatment capabilities resulting in lasting relationships between medical professionals. (U.S. Army photo by Lt. Col. Melissa Hartsell-Riester) VIEW ORIGINAL
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BUJUMBURA, Burundi - Representatives from the U.S Embassy-Burundi, 44th Medical Brigade, the 240th Forward Resuscitative Surgical Detachment, and U.S. Army Southern European Task Force, Africa (SETAF-AF) are collaborating in a Medical Readiness Exercise (MEDREX) with their Burundi National Defense Force (BNDF) partners at the Kamenge Military Hospital in Bujumbura, Burundi, April 8-26, 2024.
MEDREX is a program, planned and executed by SETAF-AF, that allows military medical personnel from the U.S. Army and their African partners to exchange medical practices, procedures and techniques that build and strengthen treatment capabilities, resulting in lasting relationships between medical professionals.
Lt. Col. Melissa Hartsell-Riester, chief of clinical operations from the 44th Medical Brigade at Fort Liberty, North Carolina, emphasized the importance of the MEDREX program, stating, “These exercises are critical because they open the aperture of our medical teams to the cultural and environmental complexities of humanitarian missions. The program also offers a valuable training venue where our providers and Soldiers can conduct collaborative knowledge exchange with our African partners and increase problem-solving and medical treatment skills in a semi-austere environment.”
As part of their MEDREX Burundi participation, Hartsell-Riester and three other members of the 20-person U.S. Army medical team, along with a representative from the U.S. Embassy-Burundi’s Office of Security Cooperation, departed Bujumbura on April 8 on a two-day, pre-deployment sight survey (PDSS) at two other clinics in Burundi’s Gitega province.
Hosted by key leaders at BNDF’s 2nd Infantry Division’s Role II clinic and the Kibuye Hope Hospital, the team conducted comprehensive site assessments to determine the medical infrastructure, safety, standard operating procedures and needs of the two facilities in order to lay the groundwork for future MEDREX engagements in fiscal year 2025 and beyond.
The team’s visit with the leaders, and assessments of the clinics, facilitated a robust knowledge exchange and gathering of information. Upon submission of their assessment, SETAF-AF’s surgeon directorate will determine if the clinics are a good fit for future MEDREXs based on Burundi’s needs along with other factors.
This initiative underscores the necessity of partnership cooperation in addressing healthcare challenges through the MEDREX and other U.S. government programs. By partnering with the BNDF and local healthcare institutions, SETAF-AF, U.S. Africa Command’s Army headquarters, aims to pave the way for sustained medical support and humanitarian assistance in the region.
As the world continues to navigate health crises and emergencies, these collaborative endeavors play a pivotal role in ensuring strong readiness and response capabilities with partner nations in Africa.
About MEDREX
U.S. Army Southern European Task Force, Africa conducts medical readiness exercises in Africa every year. These exercises join U.S. Army medical units with partner nation military medical providers for 3-week clinics in Africa. The interface provides U.S. Army medical professionals valuable knowledge of procedures and capabilities for care across Africa. The experience enhances the capabilities of Army medicine for contingencies in Africa and around the world. At the same time, the exchange provides our partner militaries understanding and capability of U.S. military medical providers. The program also provides the opportunity for U.S. and African militaries to strengthen partnerships and promote U.S. interests in Africa.
About SETAF-AF
SETAF-AF provides U.S. Africa Command and U.S. Army Europe and Africa a dedicated headquarters to synchronize Army activities in Africa and scalable crisis-response options in Africa and Europe.
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