MANILA, THE REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES, Tuesday, 17 October 2023 – Colonel Dr Haji Awang Mohd Hafizul bin Haji Awang Mohd Hassan, the Chief Medical Officer of the Royal Brunei Armed Forces (RBAF) in his capacity as Brunei Darussalam ASEAN Defence Ministers’ Meeting-Plus Experts’ Working Group on Military Medicine (ADMM-Plus EWG on MM) Co-Chair with his counterpart Brigadier Isaac Seidl, Deputy Surgeon General of the Australian Defence Force (ADF) as Australia ADMM-Plus EWG on MM Co-Chair attended the Opening Ceremony of the Project-based Community Medical Deployment (PCMD)/ Medical Aid Provision (MAP) in Camp General Emilio Aguinaldo, Quezon City.
The ceremony was officiated by His Excellency Mr Ignacio B Madriaga, Under Secretary for Strategic Assessments and Planning at the Department of National Defense, the Republic of the Philippines. In his remarks, His Excellency commended the efforts and cooperation shown by all ADMM-Plus countries in providing health care to the communities in General Tinio. He also believed that the lessons learnt from this initiative can be adapted into streamlining the future processes and policies related to ADMM-Plus deployments. These messages were echoed by Brigadier General Fatima S Navarro, Surgeon General of the Armed Forces of the Philippines and both ADMM-Plus EWG on MM Co-Chairs in their respective remarks.
The PCMD/MAP initiative is a coordinated deployment of ADMM-Plus medical teams in providing voluntary contributions to Geographically Isolated and Disadvantaged Areas (GIDA) in General Tinio Municipality. The collective contributions include medical treatment sessions, basic life support training, environmental health training, provision of medical equipment, dental treatment and public health education, veterinary services, water, sanitation and hygiene activities, renovation of a health centre and multiple activities engaging the local communities such as tree planting and river cleanup. Minor surgeries were also provided to the community by a Non-Governmental Organisation (NGO) from the World Surgical Foundation Philippines. This initiative will take place from 14 until 27 October.
The objectives of this initiative include providing a tangible health impact to the selected communities such that the community’s health provisions are enhanced, achieve the United Nation’s Sustainable Development Goals (UN SDGs) and be self-reliant in the future; providing an avenue for ADMM-Plus to execute practical cooperation in fostering a healthier, more united ASEAN community; and improving regional capacities and capabilities. The United Kingdom’s observership status in this inaugural activity demonstrates ASEAN’s engagement with Dialogue Partners and gives the ADMM-Plus partners another prospect in achieving PCMD/MAP objectives.
PCMD/MAP will also utilise existing initiatives within ASEAN such as Standard Operating Procedure for Regional Standby Arrangements and Coordination of Joint Disaster Relief and Emergency Response Operations (SASOP), ASEAN Centre for Military Medicine (ACMM) as well as the Logistics Support Framework (LSF). Additionally, a Multinational Coordination Centre-Lite (MNCC-Lite) was also established in General Tinio Municipality.
Brunei Darussalam is represented by six RBAF officers along with financial contributions, four automated external defibrillators and overseeing the execution of the initiative with other co-planners.
CMO giving speech
Visiting water desalination purification system donated by ADF
ANGKATAN BERSENJATA DIRAJA BRUNEI MENGIKUTI PROJECT-BASED COMMUNITY MEDICAL DEPLOYMENT/MEDICAL AID PROVISION
MANILA, REPUBLIK FILIPINA, Selasa, 17 Oktober 2023 – Kolonel Dr Haji Awang Mohd Hafizul bin Haji Awang Mohd Hassan, Ketua Pegawai Perubatan, Angkatan Bersenjata Diraja Brunei (ABDB) selaku Pengerusi Bersama ASEAN Defence Ministers’ Meeting-Plus Experts’ Working Group on Military Medicine (ADMM-Plus EWG on MM) bagi Brunei Darussalam dengan Brigedier Isaac Seidl, Deputy Surgeon General of the Australian Defence Force (ADF) sebagai Pengerusi Bersama ADMM-Plus EWG on MM bagi Australia telah menghadiri Upacara Perasmian Project-based Community Medical Deployment (PCMD)/Medical Aid Provision (MAP) bertempat di Camp General Emilio Aguinaldo, Quezon City.
Upacara tersebut telah dirasmikan oleh Tuan Yang Terutama Ignacio B. Madriaga, Under Secretary for Strategic Assessments and Planning at the Department of National Defense, Republik Filipina. Beliau memberikan pujian kepada negara-negara ADMM-Plus atas usaha dan kerjasama dalam menyediakan penjagaan kesihatan kepada komuniti terpencil di General Tinio. Beliau juga percaya bahawa pengajaran serta pengalaman yang diperolehi dari inisiatif ini boleh disesuaikan dalam usaha mengemaskinikan proses dan dasar untuk aturgerak ADMM-Plus yang akan datang. Hal ini juga dikongsikan oleh Brigedier Jeneral Fatima S. Navarro, Jeneral Perubatan Angkatan Bersenjata Republik Filipina, dan juga oleh kedua-dua Pengerusi Bersama ADMM-Plus EWG on MM didalam ucapan masing-masing.
PCMP/MAP ini melibatkan penempatan pasukan perubatan negara-negara ADMM-Plus ke kawasan-kawasan terpencil dari segi geografi dan kurang berkemampuan (GIDA) dalam sama-sama menghulurkan bantuan secara sukarela di Perbandaran General Tinio. Sumbangan-sumbangan yang diberikan termasuk sesi rawatan perubatan, latihan asas pertolongan cemas, latihan kesihatan alam sekitar penyediaan peralatan perubatan, rawatan pergigian dan pendidikan kesihatan awam, perkhidmatan perubatan haiwan, pemeriksaan, penapisan dan penyaluran air bersih, dan pembaikan pusat kesihatan. Aktiviti kemasyarakatan juga ada diselitkan di dalam program PCMD/MAP seperti penanaman pokok dan kempen membersihkan sungai. Penglibatan organisasi bukan kerajaan juga turut sama mengambil tempat di dalam inisiatif ini dimana World Surgical Foundation Philippines telah berjaya melaksanakan sesi pembedahan ringan kepada penduduk setempat. PCMD/MAP ini berlangsung selama dua minggu bermula pada 14 hingga 27 Oktober 2023.
Adapun objektif PCMD/ MAP ini ialah untuk memberikan penjagaan kesihatan yang berkesan kepada penduduk setempat dan menaiktaraf penjagaan perubatan mengikut matlamat yang telah digariskan di dalam Pembangunan Lestari Pertubuhan Bangsa-Bangsa Bersatu (UN SDGs). Ini juga akan menjadi landasan untuk negara-negara ahli ADMM-Plus untuk menjalinkan usaha kerjasama, memperkukuhkan perhubungan di dalam komuniti ASEAN serta meningkatkan lagi kapasiti dan keupayaan serantau. Status pemerhati United Kingdom dalam aktiviti yang julung kali diadakan ini menunjukkan penglibatan ASEAN dengan Rakan Dialog dan memberi rakan kongsi ADMM-Plus prospek lain dalam mencapai objektif PCMD/MAP.
PCMD/MAP juga menggunapakai inisiatif yang terdapat di dalam ASEAN seperti Standard Operating Procedure for Regional Standby Arrangements and Coordination of Joint Disaster Relief and Emergency Response Operations (SASOP), ASEAN Centre for Military Medicine dan juga Logistic Support Framework (LSF). Disamping itu, Pusat Koordinasi Antarabangsa (MNCC-Lite) telah ditubuhkan di kawasan Perbandaran General Tinio di sepanjang projek ini dijalankan.
Negara Brunei Darussalam diwakili oleh seramai enam orang pegawai ABDB dengan membawa bantuan berupa dana kewangan, empat buah mesin Automated External Defibrillators (AED) dan juga memantau pelaksanan inisiatif ini bersama dengan perancang-perancang yang lain.