Air Combat Command Airmen in the US have developed, sourced and delivered a 100-bed contingency hospital and medical supplies and equipment to Turkey in support of the earthquake relief effort.
The humanitarian relief supplies, valued at $11.4 million, will be used to help the people affected by recent devastating earthquakes in Turkey.
Airmen from across ACC deployed to Turkey for about 10 days to set up and teach local personnel how to use the equipment.
“This hospital configuration was new, developed specifically for this mission,” said Lee Mcguire Air Combat Command Surgeon General, Deputy Branch Chief, Current Operations & Global force management.
“We were able to tailor it together by pulling equipment from four consolidated storage and deployment centres which enabled us the ability to ensure that we quickly met the needs of the Turkish Government.”
ACC Airmen and personnel worked to coordinate transport for the needed Expeditionary Medical Support facility (EMEDS) units which amounted to 72 pallets and required 31/ Unit Type Code’s (UTC) to accompany them.
They arrived in Turkey at the end of February and commenced the build-up, in partnership with other service members, of the EMEDS. They completed the build in less than 10 days.
The hospital facilities delivered to the Turkish government included two operating rooms, an intensive care unit and medical supplies.
ACC personnel accompanied the delivery included providers, nurses and other subject matter experts who would best facilitate familiarisation of the requested equipment and facilities.
“The Air Force is the service of choice when it comes to executing these types of missions, because we're able to be so responsive and because we have the lightest leanest footprint in executing our mission in comparison to the other services,” said Mcguire.
“This humanitarian assistance disaster response mission validates our training and validates the capability of the Air Force, Medical Service and ACC.”
