Vietnam, U.S. Health Officials Meet At Hickam

November 25, 2009
By Tech. Sgt. Kerry Jackson
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Tech. Sgt. Kerry Jackson
13th Air Force Public Affairs

HICKAM AIR FORCE BASE (AFNS) - Six delegates from the Vietnam military’s health and general logistics fields met with U.S. Air Force officials Nov. 10 during a 13th Air Force-hosted visit.

The visit was designed to familiarize the Vietnamese delegates with how the U.S. militar y conducts surveillance, screening and testing of infectious diseases, to include AIDS and influenza. The delegates also learned how the U.S. Air Force plans and conducts logistics operations.

“Exchanging information about the management of infectious diseases is vital to the health and well-being of people living in countries throughout the Asia-Pacific region,” said Col. Wayne Pritt, the 13th Air Force Command Surgeon. “These collaborative efforts improve the probability that more lives will be saved, and prevent many people from contracting infectious diseases.”

During the visit, U.S. and Vietnam military delegates discussed and exchanged views on AIDS prevention, treatment and control. U.S. Air Force medical representatives shared how they implemented policy with regards to AIDS, and how such policies are being used before, during and after U.S. servicemember deployments.

Lt. Gen. Chu, Tien Cuong, director of the Vietnam Military Medical Department, said the discussions will enhance bilateral collaboration between the U.S. and Vietnamese military medical forces.

“We believe this visit will help promote our mutual understanding, and we very much appreciate the U.S. military’s support,” Chu said. “We believe the relationship between our two countries and our two militaries will further develop in the time to come.”

The team’s visit was sponsored by the U.S. President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief. Two U.S. laws, one enacted in 2003 and another in 2008, authorized billions of dollars to combat global AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria. Through fiscal 2013, the program plans to partner with host nations to support treatment for at least 3 million people, prevention of 12 million new infections, and care for 12 million people.

In addition to the medical discussions, which included a visit to the 15th Medical Group’s Hickam clinic, the Vietnamese military delegates also had the opportunity to visit the 15th Logistics Readiness Squadron’s facilities here to discuss U.S. Air Force logistics operations. Among the topic discussed was how the service equips personnel for deployments.

Chu said the visit was the first ever trip made by Vietnam People’s Army logistics representatives to the U.S. Pacific Command.

“We do hope that this initial exchange will help create opportunities for future collaboration in military logistics,” the general said. “With initiatives and thoughts shared between our deputy director of the General Department of Logistics and PACOM’s senior logistics officers, we’ll help shape logistical collaboration in the future.”

The visit is one among other recent cooperative efforts between the United States and Vietnam. In August, the United States and Vietnam co-hosted more than 200 nurses from 14 countries during the third annual Asia- Pacific Nursing Symposium in Hanoi, Vietnam.

The two countries also worked together in September during Pacific Angel 2009, a joint and combined humanitarian and civic assistance program aimed at improving military civic cooperation between the United States and Vietnam.