A New Perspective: Djiboutian Military tours EMF

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman Jarad Denton
  • CJTF-HOA
CAMP LEMONNIER, Djibouti --  Servicemembers from the Djiboutian Military Medical Service Corps were given the unique opportunity of touring the Michaud Expeditionary Medical Facility on Camp Lemonnier, August 9, 2011.

The tour of the facility was conducted as part of an ongoing educational partnership between Djiboutian Military medics and their U.S. servicemember counterparts.

"The Djiboutians gave a tour of their medical facility, which allowed us to share some of our best practices with them," said U.S. Air Force Capt. Roberta Krause, 449th Air Expeditionary Group aeromedical evacuation liaison. "They always ask interesting questions. [The Djiboutians'] hunger for knowledge is inspiring."

Krause said she hoped today's visit would allow both U.S. and Djiboutian servicemembers to expand their horizons in the medical field.

"They have valuable insights into tropical medicine and malaria," she said. "It's something the Djiboutian people live with every day."

According to Major Greg Baldwin, Combined Joint Task Force - Horn of Africa J-5 medical planner, the Djiboutian Military also has a unique perspective on diagnosing illness through observation, patient turnover and offering the best care possible with limited resources. He said U.S. medical servicemembers have a lot to learn from their Djiboutian neighbors.

"We would be foolhardy to think we know everything about medicine," Baldwin said.

During the tour itself, the Djiboutians were able to see how the U.S. developed a fully functioning medical facility with such limited space.

"It was good to see all the facilities available in such a small location," said Lieutenant Dayib Dahir Abdillahi, Djiboutian Military Medical Service Corps general practitioner. "It was very nice to have this opportunity."