PH Army flaunts mobile surgical care capability, latest medical assets (Sabong News)
Author
Martin Sadongdong
Date
MARCH 23 2022
The Philippine Army (PA) revealed on Wednesday, March 23, that it is now capable of conducting surgeries outside of its camp hospitals through the use of specially-designed mobile trucks which could prove critical for the military especially in times of conflict as big as the Marawi siege in 2017.
In a statement, Colonel Maria Victoria Juan, Army chief nurse, said that the PA’s surgery trucks were conceptualized after a review of operational gaps during the Marawi siege.
During the siege, many troops had to undergo immediate surgeries after losing their limbs but had to wait for a long time since they needed to be medically evacuated first and be admitted in camp hospitals.
The PA saw the challenges during the siege as an opportunity to improve their medical response during times of military operations.
“These trucks and assigned medical teams can perform resuscitation care, patient stabilization, package casualty for evacuation, and damage control surgery,” Juan said.
The surgery trucks and other latest medical assets were showcased to the public in a static display held at the Hunters ROTC Parade Grounds in Fort Bonifacio, Metro Manila as part of the 125th founding anniversary celebration of the PA.
The surgical trucks, which are modified KM250s are operated by the forward medical companies of different Army Divisions.
Lt. Gen. Romeo Brawner Jr., PA commanding general, previously vowed to prioritize the physical and mental health of soldiers, the Army’s “most important resource,” in his command guidance to the troops.
