US, Ghana conclude medical readiness exercise during African Lion 2025

Back to U.S. Army Southern European Task Force, Africa (SETAF-AF)

ACCRA, Ghana — Twenty-seven U.S. medical professionals from Landstuhl Regional Medical Center (LMRC), Dental Health Activity Rheinland-Pfalz, Public Health Command Europe and the North Dakota National Guard concluded a medical readiness exercise (MEDREX) on May 23, 2025 in Accra, Ghana as part of African Lion 2025 (AL25).

From May 5–23, U.S. service members worked alongside Ghana Armed Forces (GAF) personnel at the 37th Military Hospital, the GAF Veterinary Clinic and the Ghana National Dog Academy.

Medical services included obstetrics and gynecology, trauma surgery, general surgery, critical and intensive care, anesthesia, emergency medicine, dentistry, and veterinary care.

“MEDREX provides hands-on opportunities to increase medical response capabilities in real-world scenarios, ensuring that we are prepared for both combat and humanitarian operations,” said U.S. Air Force Lt. Col. Mary Stuever, trauma medical director at LMRC and trauma surgeon.

This year, MEDREX Ghana was integrated into AL25, the largest annual combined, joint exercise of U.S. Africa Command, led by SETAF-AF, across Ghana, Morocco, Senegal and Tunisia.

“I think my colleagues have sharpened their ability to operate in diverse environments,” said Sgt. 1st Class Albert Nimako, a combat medic assigned to Landstuhl Regional Medical Center. “By working alongside African partners, we have refined our ability to deliver rapid, adaptable, and resource-efficient care.”

Nimako returned to Ghana for his second MEDREX, after volunteering for the 2024 Ghana MEDREX last May. Originally from Kumasi, Ghana, he joined the U.S. Army in 2009.

“The exercise helps my unit to better prepare to work in austere environments and also work with limited resources,” Nimako said about the 2024 MEDREX. “It brings to our awareness that we will not always have the luxury of working with all the equipment and supplies at our disposal.”

This year’s MEDREX proved highly successful, with participants treating more than 12,000 patients in just three weeks. The mission enabled U.S. personnel to collaborate with other military medical teams and operate in unfamiliar environments—enhancing clinical readiness and adaptability.

MEDREX is planned and executed by U.S. Army Southern European Task Force, Africa (SETAF-AF), and prepares U.S. military health professionals for the challenges of providing care outside of traditional clinical settings. By working alongside African partners, U.S. medical professionals refine their ability to deliver rapid, adaptable, and resource efficient medical care, directly increasing medical readiness for large scale combat operations.

About African Lion

AL25, the largest annual military exercise in Africa, brings together over 50 nations, including seven NATO allies and 10,000 troops to conduct realistic, dynamic and collaborative training in an austere environment that intersects multiple geographic and functional combatant commands. Led by U.S. Army Southern European Task Force, Africa (SETAF-AF) on behalf of the U.S. Africa Command, AL25 takes place from April 14 to May 23, 2025, across Ghana, Morocco, Senegal, and Tunisia. This large-scale exercise will enhance our ability to work together in complex, multi-domain operations—preparing forces to deploy, fight and win.

About SETAF-AF

U.S. Army Southern European Task Force, Africa (SETAF-AF) prepares Army forces, executes crisis response, enables strategic competition and strengthens partners to achieve U.S. Army Europe and Africa and U.S. Africa Command campaign objectives.

Follow SETAF-AF on: Facebook, X, Instagram, YouTube, LinkedIn & DVIDS.