DVIDS – News – SOUTHCOM Provides Medical Assistance to Lesser Antilles

Paramaribo, Suriname – Following the deployment of the US Navy ship Comfort to its recent commitment to continue operations, the US Confederate Command (USSOUTHCOM) announced this week that the Lesser Antilles Medical Assistance Team (LAMAT) will begin operations this week, starting with the arrival of US military personnel. started operation. At her USSOUTHCOM headquarters in Miami, Florida, January 25, 2023.

Through this operation, the joint USSOUTHCOM team will conduct a series of medical assistance operations, providing relief to oversaturated medical professionals in Guyana, Suriname, and St. Lucia.

“This mission is important and these people really appreciate what you are doing for them,” said Lt. Gen. Andrew Croft, USSOUTHCOM’s deputy military commander. “The efforts your team makes during this mission will forge the future of our relationship with these countries.”

USSOUTHCOM conducts regular medical operations across its areas of responsibility to strengthen partnerships, increase proficiency, and improve interoperability among participating countries. This mission focuses primarily on gastrointestinal surgery, such as hernia and cyst resection, and dental support.

The operation of LAMAT is coordinated with the host country’s Ministry of Health and hospital medical directors to ensure that excess capacity is available without displacing the host country’s health care providers. U.S. medical professionals will work with host country healthcare providers to ensure continuity of care after all surgical procedures.

“At the end of the day, we are here to help people.” believe.”

This year the surgeon will start in Suriname and move to two other countries over a period of time. Patients for gastrointestinal surgery have been pre-identified by the host country Ministry of Health in collaboration with the medical director. Dental patient scheduling for LAMAT is done through the host country’s normal clinic and hospital scheduling processes.