Defense Health Agency helps Türkiye after devastating earthquake

[ad_1]

The US European Command and Defense Health Agency provided medical assistance, logistics, personnel and supplies in the aftermath of the earthquake that struck the country on February 6, 2023.

As soon as the Turkish government called for help, the DHA responded and prepared to provide assistance the next day.

“Upon request, the DHA usually responds within hours,” said Edward King, DHA liaison officer to USEUCOM in Stuttgart, Germany.

King said that with the availability and location of DHA military hospitals and clinics around the world, “DHA will always play a role in natural disaster recovery missions and military emergency operations.”

On February 9, a team from USEUCOM Headquarters arrived at Incirlik Air Base, Turkey, to determine how the US military and DHA could help the devastated region of the country.

Assistance provided by the Dubai Health Authority and the US Army

When assigned to the mission, the US Armed Forces provided a wide range of medical assistance using DHA and USEUCOM resources and programs, including:

The ground surgical team of the USAF 86th Medical Group from Ramstein, Germany, provided ground support and aeromedical evacuation. The Armed Forces Blood Program and the European Command Joint Blood Program Office provided blood supplies, and when power outages caused some damage, EUCOM JBPO quickly provided fresh fresh blood supplies. The DHA coordinated medical logistics with Defense Centers for Public Health – Portsmouth, who shipped 10 vials of rabies immune globulin to Incirlik to help with local food insecurity and wildlife vital control concerns. The Expeditionary Medical Support Unit served as a field hospital for Incirlik Air Base in Turkey. The field hospital is equipped with an emergency room, two operating rooms, an intensive care unit, medical supplies, 100 beds and equipment. The TRICARE Area Office for Eurasia and Africa provided daily assessments of medical infrastructure on the ground, asset viability and medical capacity. The Defense Health Agency in Europe helped coordinate the movement of medical personnel and logistics. DHA Medical Logistics provided analytical modeling of a rapid reconnaissance mobile hospital to support future humanitarian assistance and disaster relief missions in the US European Command area of ​​responsibility.

Sent in as a precaution due to severe damage to infrastructure across the region, the 86th US Air Force MDGs landed on the ground on February 13, ready to assist when needed, as local hospitals began to fill up with Turkish nationals and were unable to take US military personnel as patients.

“As soon as we arrived, the Turkish hospital beds started to open up and they could accommodate more of our people,” said Lt. Germany. “We were there if things didn’t go well and extra support was needed.”

The team, which was set up at a military hospital at Incirlik Air Base in Turkey, “was ready to work wherever it was needed,” Simmons said. “We carry rolling bags with most of the equipment we need. We can set up anywhere. We are very flexible.”

Although no patients were seen, Simmons said the mission was important for future missions and for training. “We were there to mitigate the risks.”

“This was a good short-notice mission exercise. Let’s see how quickly we can react,” Simmons said. “It gave us a good opportunity to see if there were any weaknesses for improvement. From a standby stance, active stance and deployment, we have responded well.”

Working and helping international partners and governments is an important part of the DHA’s mission and helps with future capabilities.

“Assistance in humanitarian and disaster relief missions helps improve DHA readiness, test its capabilities, and prepare DHA personnel for future disaster and emergency relief operations,” King said.

[ad_2]