Exercise 'Pacific Angel' Commences in Jaffna Peninsula
9:32am on Thursday 8th August 2013
A joint Medical and Renovation campaign ‘PACIFIC ANGEL’ commenced on 5th August 2013 and will be continued till 11th August 2013 in the Jaffna Peninsula with the Sri Lankan Armed Forces and civil organizations in conjunction with the United States Pacific Air Forces. PACIFIC ANGEL is the annual exercise of United State Pacific Air Forces which is conducted in a selected country in the Pacific reign in collaboration with the US Pacific Air Forces with the Armed Forces and civil organizations of the respective country.
The Aim of the exercise is to enhance disaster response in Sri Lanka and allow US assistance in a disaster to be more effective. The Sri Lanka Air Force in conjunction with the United States Pacific Air Force are co-hosting a Health Services Outreach (HSO) and Engineering Civil Programme (ENCAP) which has been conducted at selected sites and underprivileged schools in the Northern Peninsula respectively. Both activities will provide benefits to the local population, while allowing both multinational responders and Sri Lankans to practice providing emergency medical assistance and engaging in reconstruction, following a disaster situation.
The first stage of the medical program was conducted at Thikkum Cultural Hall in Alwain North village in Jaffna on 5th and 6th August from 0830 hrs to 1500hrs with the participation of International health professionals and nursing assistance of US Pacific Air Forces comprising professionals from USA, Australia Bangladesh and Maldavian Armed Forces. The Sri Lankan Medical contingent comprised a 14 member crew including two Doctors and three consultants from the Ministry of Health Services, eight member crew including one doctor from Sri Lanka Army, eight member crew including one doctor from Sri Lank Navy, fifteen member crew including three doctors from Sri Lanka Air Force, Red Cross members and University students.
The programme mainly focuses on providing Primary Health Care, Physical Therapy, Optometry and Dentistry for civil personnel. At the entrance the incoming crowd were triaged by two doctors and directed to respective sections where the appropriate medical treatments were being provided by a team consisting of foreign and Sri Lankan doctors. The goal of this initiative was to share the knowledge and experiences of health professionals who represent various countries. A health education programme was also conducted at the assembly area for the civilians and thousand one hundred nineteen civilians were treatmented during these two days. The second stage of the medical programme will be conducted at Saivapragasa Vidyalayam in Atchelu on 8th and 9th August 2013. Meanwhile, a Medical Exchange Programme (SMEE) of aero medical evacuation with the participation of US Pacific Air Forces and the Sri Lanka Air Force personnel is also being conducted at SLAF Base Katunayake from 5th August to 9th August 2013 coinciding with the medical and renovation programmes being conducted in the Jafna Peninsula.
The renovation programmes which mainly focus on the renovation of school buildings and uplifting the infrastructure facilities of underprivileged schools which were selected on a priority basis. The renovation programme commenced at three renovation sites viz. Punnalaikkadduvan Primary School (Site one), Kuddiyapulam Mixed School (Site two) and Atchelu Saivapragasa Vidyalayam (Site three) in the Jaffna Peninsula on 4th August and will continue untill 11th August 2013.
The works contingent which comprises of Seventeen works engineers from US Pacific Air Forcers, ten member crew including one works engineer from Sri Lanka Air Force, ten member crew including one Works engineer from Sri Lanka Navy and eight member crew including one works engineer from Sri Lanka Army are engaged with masonry, carpentry, plumbing, electrical works and beautification of surroundings of those schools. This exercise will provide a forum for military engineers and technicians to explore challenges, opportunities and diverse experiences related to modern engineering practices, expand knowledge, share expertise and advance skills through mutual discussion apart from the primary objective of the exercise which to enhance infrastructure facilities and livelihood development of needy people specially in the post war scenario.
The exercise represents a unique opportunity for military medical and engineering professionals to engage on issues of mutual interest, exchange knowledge and promote excellence in medical and engineering practices. In addition to the participant from US Pacific Air Forces (USA and Australia) and co-host, Sri Lanka, Participating nations for the exercise include Bangladeshi and Moldavian Air Force personnel. This would be a great opportunity to highlight the role and contribution of the Sri Lankan Military medical and construction services for the betterment of the military. In addition this event will also provide good opportunity to promote Sri Lankan culture and tourism in the region.
The Aim of the exercise is to enhance disaster response in Sri Lanka and allow US assistance in a disaster to be more effective. The Sri Lanka Air Force in conjunction with the United States Pacific Air Force are co-hosting a Health Services Outreach (HSO) and Engineering Civil Programme (ENCAP) which has been conducted at selected sites and underprivileged schools in the Northern Peninsula respectively. Both activities will provide benefits to the local population, while allowing both multinational responders and Sri Lankans to practice providing emergency medical assistance and engaging in reconstruction, following a disaster situation.
The first stage of the medical program was conducted at Thikkum Cultural Hall in Alwain North village in Jaffna on 5th and 6th August from 0830 hrs to 1500hrs with the participation of International health professionals and nursing assistance of US Pacific Air Forces comprising professionals from USA, Australia Bangladesh and Maldavian Armed Forces. The Sri Lankan Medical contingent comprised a 14 member crew including two Doctors and three consultants from the Ministry of Health Services, eight member crew including one doctor from Sri Lanka Army, eight member crew including one doctor from Sri Lank Navy, fifteen member crew including three doctors from Sri Lanka Air Force, Red Cross members and University students.
The programme mainly focuses on providing Primary Health Care, Physical Therapy, Optometry and Dentistry for civil personnel. At the entrance the incoming crowd were triaged by two doctors and directed to respective sections where the appropriate medical treatments were being provided by a team consisting of foreign and Sri Lankan doctors. The goal of this initiative was to share the knowledge and experiences of health professionals who represent various countries. A health education programme was also conducted at the assembly area for the civilians and thousand one hundred nineteen civilians were treatmented during these two days. The second stage of the medical programme will be conducted at Saivapragasa Vidyalayam in Atchelu on 8th and 9th August 2013. Meanwhile, a Medical Exchange Programme (SMEE) of aero medical evacuation with the participation of US Pacific Air Forces and the Sri Lanka Air Force personnel is also being conducted at SLAF Base Katunayake from 5th August to 9th August 2013 coinciding with the medical and renovation programmes being conducted in the Jafna Peninsula.
The renovation programmes which mainly focus on the renovation of school buildings and uplifting the infrastructure facilities of underprivileged schools which were selected on a priority basis. The renovation programme commenced at three renovation sites viz. Punnalaikkadduvan Primary School (Site one), Kuddiyapulam Mixed School (Site two) and Atchelu Saivapragasa Vidyalayam (Site three) in the Jaffna Peninsula on 4th August and will continue untill 11th August 2013.
The works contingent which comprises of Seventeen works engineers from US Pacific Air Forcers, ten member crew including one works engineer from Sri Lanka Air Force, ten member crew including one Works engineer from Sri Lanka Navy and eight member crew including one works engineer from Sri Lanka Army are engaged with masonry, carpentry, plumbing, electrical works and beautification of surroundings of those schools. This exercise will provide a forum for military engineers and technicians to explore challenges, opportunities and diverse experiences related to modern engineering practices, expand knowledge, share expertise and advance skills through mutual discussion apart from the primary objective of the exercise which to enhance infrastructure facilities and livelihood development of needy people specially in the post war scenario.
The exercise represents a unique opportunity for military medical and engineering professionals to engage on issues of mutual interest, exchange knowledge and promote excellence in medical and engineering practices. In addition to the participant from US Pacific Air Forces (USA and Australia) and co-host, Sri Lanka, Participating nations for the exercise include Bangladeshi and Moldavian Air Force personnel. This would be a great opportunity to highlight the role and contribution of the Sri Lankan Military medical and construction services for the betterment of the military. In addition this event will also provide good opportunity to promote Sri Lankan culture and tourism in the region.
