SAF MEDICAL TEAM DEPLOYED FROM LST

A 24-member Singapore Armed Forces (SAF) medical team that included two volunteers was part of the first group of personnel to be deployed from RSS Endurance on 3 Jan.

The Landing Ship Tank (LST) arrived near Port Meulaboh, a small coastal town at West Sumatra the day before, as part of the SAF's Joint Humanitarian Assistance Task Force to help provide relief aid to tsunami-hit areas.

The medical team is separated into two specialties, the Forward Area Surgical Team (FAST) and the public health and preventive care team.

Captain (CPT) (Dr) Vernon Lee from the preventive healthcare team told PIONEER that the Indonesian authorities have determined suitable areas where they may operate from, but they are still not sure of the exact location where they will be deployed.

"We hope it will be near the refugee camps. Once we reach there, we can start almost immediately to treat patients with our supplies."

"It will be like polyclinic style," he said.

There are no signs of an epidemic currently and the medical team look set to face patients with fractures, infected wounds and respiratory infection problems.

The public healthcare team expects to see up to 500 public healthcare cases a day.

As for FAST, they will be sent to Meulaboh general hospital to augment surgical needs.

In addition, troops from the SAF are also providing communication and security assistance on the ground.

Later in the morning, the Singapore Ambassador to Indonesia, Mr Edward Lee Kwong Foo; the Indonesian Minister for Social Affairs, and the Governor of Sumatra will be visiting RSS Endurance and the relief work being carried out in the town of Meulaboh.

Singapore's Defence Minister, Mr Teo Chee Hean, is also scheduled for a visit on 4 Jan.