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MANAMA, Kingdom of Bahrain (March 24, 2008) - Military officers
from Europe and countries in the central command area of operation
gathered to participate in the first International Military Medical
Symposium, themed "Military Medical Care in Conflict and Peace,"
Mar. 22-24 in Bahrain.
Co-hosted by the Bahrain Defense Force and U.S. Army Central,
the objective of the IMMS was to share knowledge and explore
opportunities for mutual learning, cooperation and support in the
medical care of U.S. service members and others as the mission
demands.
"We should always be prepared," said Lt. Gen. (Dr.) Mohammed Bin
Abdulla Al-Khalifa, minister of state for Defense Affairs. "We live
in a world where we need strong corporation between all
nationalities. Today's challenges can not be held by one country.
With advance communication we can easily come together as a global
village."
The symposium, originally designed as a field grade officer to
colonel-level event, attracted nine general officers, in addition
to the participation of the Bahraini state minister of defense.
Kuwait, Egypt, Lebanon, Oman, Qatar, Jordan, Bahrain and Iraq
were some of the countries who attended the even. European
countries, all member states of the International Committee of
Military Medicine, which attended the event were France, United
Kingdom, Switzerland and Germany.
"Qatar, Kuwait, Bahrain, Jordan, Egypt and others have all taken
excellent care of U.S. servicemembers," said Brig. Gen. James
Hodge, Medical Support and Logistics commander, during his speech
at the opening ceremony. "Additionally several European nations
routinely provide outstanding medical care for U.S. servicemembers
when they fall ill. We sincerely thank you for all the wonderful
care you have provided U.S. military personnel."
While numerous countries attended the symposium only a couple
gave presentations. The presenting countries were Bahrain, Jordan,
Egypt, U.S., France, Switzerland as well as representatives of the
International Committee of Military Medicine, of which the U.S. is
a founding country.
Some of the topics discussed were medical operations in recent
conflicts, Egypt's hospital operation in Afghanistan, the roles and
objectives of the International Committee of Military Medicine,
Jordan's hospital operation in Iraq and medical preparation of
military personnel before deployment in peace support
operations.
"Sharing information and determining international standards for
military medical operations through professional associations and
relationships is key to sustaining our service members, caring for
wounded on the battlefield and successfully accomplishing
humanitarian missions," said Col. Jonathan C. Fruendt, USARCENT
command surgeon. "We hope that their participation will continue
and grow."
"USARCENT has had the opportunity to work with and in many
instances rely upon the excellent medical care of our partners and
hosts. Conferences like this one in Bahrain will certainly deepen
and strengthen that logical inter-dependence," Fruendt said.
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