AUSTRALIA ENHANCES CAPACITY OF ARMED FORCES OF THE PHILIPPINES TO TREAT COMBAT CASUALTIES
Australian Embassy Defence Attaché CAPT Vic Jones, RAN, (centre) provides six ‘Thomas’ Aero-Medical Packs to the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) during a recent hand-over ceremony at AFP General Headquarters in Camp General Emilio Aguinaldo.
AFP Surgeon General BGEN Joselito Castro (left) and Philippine Army Chief Surgeon COL Commie C. Pagunuran MC (GSC) (right) received the medical packs which will be distributed to the AFP’s medical units conducting operations across the Philippines. The packs contain specialised medical equipment used to stabilise and treat combat casualties, along with I.V. fluids and drugs necessary in the care of critically ill or injured patients. The packs are also useful as an advanced life support specialty pack for trauma, burn, cardiac and paediatric patients.
The donation is part of Australia’s Defence Cooperation Program with the Philippines which seeks to strengthen the country’s capacity to counter national and regional security threats. Australia is the Philippines’ second largest counter-terrorism and defence cooperation partner. In 2009-10, the Defence Cooperation Program is worth approximately Php 240 million.