ACCRA, Ghana — A team composed of U.S. Army and Air Force medical professionals from the 86th Medical Squadron, Dental Health Activity - Rheinland Pfalz, Landstuhl Regional Medical Center, U.S. Army Medical Command and the State Medical Detachment, North Dakota National Guard commenced a medical readiness exercise (MEDREX) with the Ghana Armed Forces, May 13. The ceremony marked the beginning of activities that will run until May 31, at the 37th Military Hospital in Accra.
The 25-member U.S. medical team is collaborating with Ghanaian doctors, nurses and medical repair technicians to provide patient care across various specialties throughout the three-week exercise. Since 1994, the North Dakota National Guard has maintained a productive relationship with Ghana, conducting numerous exchanges as part of the Department of Defense State Partnership Program.
Under the leadership of U.S. Army Southern European Task Force, Africa (SETAF-AF), MEDREX facilitates the exchange of medical procedures and enhancement of treatment capabilities among medical personnel from the U.S. military and partner nations. This marks the fourth out of eight scheduled MEDREXs by SETAF-AF across the African continent in fiscal year 2024.
U.S. Army Brig. Gen. John LeBlanc, deputy commanding general (National Guard) of SETAF-AF, emphasized the impact of the program.
“This year marks a significant milestone as we embark on the 10th iteration of this invaluable partnership between the United States military and the Ghana Armed Forces,” said LeBlanc. “Since the inception of our first MEDREX in 2014, our collaboration has steadily grown, fostering enhanced readiness and interoperability between our respective militaries.”
MEDREX Ghana 2024 is integrated into exercise African Lion 24, the largest annual combined, joint exercise of U.S. Africa Command, spanning Ghana, Morocco, Senegal and Tunisia from April 19 through May 31. This exercise, involving approximately 8,100 personnel from over 27 nations and contingents from NATO, focuses on enhancing readiness between the U.S. and partner nation forces.
While in Ghana, the multinational team collaborates and shares best medical practices while delivering care to patients in the community. Their services encompass a broad spectrum, including general surgery, anesthesiology, operating room procedures, OB/GYN, dental care, emergency room services and bio-engineering equipment repair.
This marks the first year that veterinary services were part of the program.
“The inclusion of veterinary capabilities underscores our commitment to expanding the scope of our support and it is addressing the holistic health needs of the communities we serve,” added LeBlanc.
Apart from Ghana, the North Dakota National Guard also maintains state partnerships with the African countries of Togo and Benin. The National Guard Bureau's State Partnership Program is dedicated to fostering relationships that enhance global security, mutual understanding, and cooperation, encouraging long-term ties across all societal levels and facilitating economic, political and military development between U.S. states and partner nations.
“Our focus remains on strengthening and enabling African land forces to advance our shared security objectives,” said LeBlanc. “As we embark on this MEDREX, let us remember that SETAF-AF's approach in Africa is partner-led and U.S. enabled. Through partnership, trust and respect, we will continue to make meaningful strides towards a safer and more prosperous future for all.”
MEDREX is a medical readiness exercise program, planned and executed by SETAF-AF that allows military health professionals from the U.S. and their African partners to exchange medical practices, procedures and techniques that build and strengthen treatment capabilities, resulting in lasting relationships between the partners.
SETAF-AF provides U.S. Africa Command and U.S. Army Europe & Africa a dedicated headquarters to synchronize Army activities in Africa and scalable crisis-response options in Africa and Europe.
