A medical unit under Vietnam’s defense ministry has actively engaged in a training and practice exercise to be ready for their first-ever peacekeeping mission with the United Nations in South Sudan next year.

The exercise was also the first of its kind to feature a Field Hospital Level 2 and took place in line with the UN standards in terms of management, operations and medical situation handling.

The training was supported by 15 military medical experts with experience in peacekeeping from the US and the UK.

The Vietnamese trainees were exposed to simulation exercises of receiving and treating people with different injuries and diseases.

Vietnam’s Field Hospital Level 2 No.1 has sent 69 personnel to join the training, including nine female members.

The exercise helped them familiarize themselves with the equipment and operational procedure of the field hospital, as well as knowing more about the weather and life conditions in South Sudan, Nguyen Thanh Cong, deputy director of the hospital, said.

The exercise will continue until September 19, whereas the medical unit is slated to begin their mission in South Sudan in the second quarter of next year.

On August 28, the United States government also handed over a center that focuses on the Vietnamese military’s peacekeeping missions to Vietnam’s Ministry of National Defense.

The facility, along with relevant equipment, is designed to facilitate the training of peacekeeping forces. Named S5, it has 15 training rooms able to accommodate 600 learners and a 254-seat conference hall.

The U.S. government has also agreed to provide a support package to assist the establishment of Vietnam’s first level-two field hospital, raising the value of support to US$10 million.

Below are some photos of the training activities at the Field Hospital Level 2.

Sergeant Major Sean Orrell checks the oxygen equipment.

Sergeant Major Justin OU acts as a patient for a simulation exercise.

Military doctors discuss a patient’s condition.

The training is closely overseen by international observers and supervisors.

A patient is taken to the quarantine area.

A patient is checked.

Major Jason Sanjay Biswas from the Royal Navy talks with doctors.

US experts check to ensure all medical equipment will work with the best possible quality.

A simulation when the anesthesia machine becomes out of order unexpectedly.

Doctors perform on an urgent case.

Brigadier General Toby Rowlands directly checks a patient.

Sergeant Major Justin OU smiles after a day acting as patient for Vietnamese doctors.

The international-standard equipment at the field hospital.

Brigadier General Toby Rowlands discusses with Vietnamese officers

There are 69 Vietnamese personnel in this training campaign.

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