(KPL) Ministry of Health in cooperation with the Ministry of National Defense, the U.S. Embassy, the U.S. Army Pacific Command, and Xiengkhouang province, conducted a five-day Humanitarian Medical Outreach and Training Event in Xiengkhouang from April 18-22.

http://www.kplnet.net/english/news/edn9.htm

The U.S. Army Pacific brought a team of sixteen U.S. military doctors, nurses, and technicians to Laos to conduct a medical training exchange and treatment programme with Lao civilian and military medical specialists in Xiengkhouang, in a three-part event.

During the first part of the training, the U.S. medical teams conducted a one-day training exchange on advanced medical topics with Lao civilian and military doctors and nurses at the Lao-Mongolian Friendship Hospital. More than 30 Lao civilian and military medical personnel from the Lao-Mongolian Hospital, Hospital 101, and local District Hospitals participated in the event.

Topics included treatment of diabetes, hypertension, traumatic brain injury, and other medical topics.

The U.S. medical team also provided a 5-day First Aid Course to Village Health Volunteers in Xiengkhouang, conducted at the Xiengkhouang Province Health School.

More than 25 village health volunteers and emergency medical specialists participated in the training, which was focused on basic first aid to save lives in the event of traumatic injury.

Finally, the combined U.S.-Lao medical team conducted four days of humanitarian medical outreach to local citizens in Phonsavanh, Phoukoud district, and Kham district. The combined military and civilian medical team provided general medical services, pediatrician services, dental services, and optometrist services. In four days of treatment, the Lao-U.S. team treated 3,456 patients. All medical supplies, equipment, and medicines were donated by the U.S. Army Pacific.

This Medical Outreach and Training Event was a follow up to the successful medical cooperation event held in April 2010, also in Xiengkhouang, and is a part of the continuing humanitarian medical cooperation programme in Laos conducted by the U.S. Embassy and U.S. Pacific Command.

This event was planned with the cooperation and collaboration of the Ministry of Health, the Ministry of National Defense, and Xiengkhouang Province.

The closing event was attended by Dr. Bouasone Sinouanthong, Director of the Health Service of Xiengkhouang Province; Dr. Manivanh Sawadee, Curative Department, Ministry of Health; Lt. Col. Dr. Sitthavong Bounpasong, Military Hospital 103; Lt. Col.

Dr. Buasing Inthavong, Director of Military Hospital 101; Lt. Col. James McAden, U.S. Defense Attache, U.S. Embassy; and Major Ryan DeBoard, U.S. Army Team Leader, Tripler Army Hospital, Hawaii.

During the closing event, Dr. Bouasone thanked the U.S. Army Pacific Team for their training and assistance during the week, and praised the excellent spirit of cooperation and friendship that developed among the Lao-U.S. team members.

I am hoping that the US can do more with removing UXOs.