Ohio National Guard News

Planning underway for Combined Medical Engagement
in Angola with Ohio, Serbia

Story and photos by Staff Sgt. Michael Carden, Ohio National Guard Public Affairs

Representatives from the Serbian and Angolan Armed Forces meet with members of the Ohio National Guard June 29, 2017, at Joint Force Headquarters-Ohio.

COLUMBUS, Ohio (06/28/17) — Representatives of the Serbian and Angolan Armed Forces met with members of the Ohio National Guard in late June to discuss plans for an upcoming Combined Medical Engagement set to take place in Angola later this year. More than 20 planners from all three countries gathered for a week to work through the details for the upcoming event.

The upcoming Combined Medical Engagement will have medical personnel from the three nations provide infectious disease prevention training as well as basic care to four different villages in the area surrounding Caixito, Angola. Local residents will be able to receive preventative medicine as well as see specialists in obstetrics, pediatric care, dermatology and optometry.

The Ohio National Guard has a long-standing relationship with Serbia, having been state partners with the country for more than 10 years as part of the National Guard State Partnership program. Ohio National Guard and Serbian Armed Forces conducted a similar event in Serbia in 2016. Last year’s event, (see “Combined Medical Engagement partners ONG, Serbia, Angola to help citizens in rural Serbia”) which included three observers from the Angolan military, was conducted to lay the groundwork for developing a working relationship with Angola in the future.