BOLKIAH GARRISON, Thursday, 17 October 2019 – The Third Medical and Health Symposium in conjunction with the Exercise Cooperation Afloat Readiness and Training (EX CARAT) 2019 was conducted at the Bolkiah Garison Medical Complex by the Medical and Health Services Unit, Combat Service Support, Royal Brunei Land Force (CSS, RBLF) with support from the Joint Force Headquarters, Royal Brunei Armed Forces and the United States Navy (USN).
Themed “Tropical Medicine“, the symposium was designed to deliver three objectives: first, to encourage medical personnel in continuous learning; second, to foster professional relationships between agencies involved in the management and development of the local medical and health landscape; and third, encourage the exchange of theoretical and practical knowledge between Brunei Darussalam and the United States. The Symposium involved 110 participants from Royal Brunei Armed Forces (RBAF) and governmental agencies.
Present as the guest of honour during the Opening ceremony was Colonel Azman bin Haji Bangkol, Chief of Staff RBLF. During the ceremony, CDR Ian Vale Cruz of US presented a keynote speech on the importance of research and development in the field of Tropical Medicine.
The symposium was divided into two breakout sessions. In the morning, participants had the opportunity to learn from CAPT Dr. Patrick Blair of USN about his experience in leading disease outbreak responses in Asia, Dr. Hjh. Nourul Jaman of the Ministry of Health about the impact of climate change on outbreaks of infectious diseases such as malaria and dengue, as well as Soon Boon Yu of the Institute of Biodiversity and Environmental Research, University of Brunei Darussalam with Joffre bin Haji Ali Ahmad of the Department of Forestry, Ministry of Primary Resources and Tourism about local efforts in medicinal plants research.
In the afternoon, participants had the opportunity to gain knowledge from CAPT Dr Jonathan Stahl of USN on their medical research capacity in various locations around the world, Dr. Pg Khairulhazman of the Ministry of Health about the prevalence of non-communicable diseases in Brunei Darussalam caused by lifestyle and dietary changes, and Dr. Fathi Alikhan from the Ministry of Health about Knowlesi Malaria, which involves the spread of parasites from certain species of monkeys to humans on Borneo Island.
The invited speakers received tokens of appreciation presented by Colonel Dr Haji Awang Mohd Hafizul bin Haji Awang Mohd Hassan, Chief Medical Officer at the Closing Ceremony held in the afternoon.
SIMPOSIUM PERUBATAN DAN KESIHATAN YANG KE-3 SEMPENA EKSESAIS
COOPERATION AFLOAT READINESS AND TRAINING (EX CARAT 2019)
BOLKIAH GARISON, Khamis, 17 Oktober 2019 –– Simposium Perubatan dan Kesihatan yang ke-3 sempena Eksesais
Cooperation Afloat Readiness and Training (EX CARAT) 2019 telah dikendalikan di Kompleks Perubatan Bolkiah Garison anjuran unit Khidmat Perubatan dan Kesihatan, Khidmat Bantuan Kombat, Tentera Darat Diraja Brunei (KBK TDDB) disokong oleh Markas Angkatan Bersama, Angkatan Bersenjata Diraja Brunei (MAB ABDB) dan Tentera Laut Amerika Syarikat (TLAS).
Bertemakan
Tropical Medicine, simposium tersebut mempunyai tiga objektif: pertama, untuk menggalakan anggota-anggota perubatan dalam aktiviti-aktiviti yang berkonsepkan
continuous learning dalam topik-topik yang relevan; kedua, untuk memupuk hubungan profesional antara agensi-agensi yang terlibat dalam menangani dan membangun industri perubatan dan kesihatan tempatan; dan ketiga, menggalakkan pertukaran ilmu teori dan praktikal di antara Negara Brunei Darussalam dan Amerika Syarikat. Simposium 3 tersebut telah melibatkan seramai 110 para peserta daripada Angkatan Bersenjata Diraja Brunei (ABDB) dan agensi-agensi Kerajaan.
Hadir selaku Tetamu Kehormat pada Majlis Pembukaan Simposium tersebut adalah Yang Mulia Kolonel Azman bin Haji Bangkol, Ketua Staf TDDB. Semasa upacara tersebut, CDR Ian Vale Cruz selaku
keynote speaker telah memberi gambaran mengenai pentingnya usaha kajiselidik dan pembangunan perubatan dalam bidang
Tropical Medicine.
Simposium tersebut dibahagikan ke dua sesi
breakout. Pada sebelah pagi, para peserta berpeluang untuk mendengar ceramah daripada Kepten Dr. Patrick Blair dari TLAS mengenai pengalaman beliau dalam menangani
Disease Outbreak Responses di Asia, Dr. Hjh. Nourul Jaman dari Kementerian Kesihatan mengenai kesan perubahan iklim kepada wabak penyakit berjangkit seperti malaria dan denggi, serta Soon Boon Yu dari Institut Biodiversiti dan Penyelidikan Alam Sekitar, Universiti Brunei Darussalam bersama Joffre bin Haji Ali Ahmad dari Jabatan Perhutanan, Kementerian Sumber-Sumber Utama dan Pelancongan mengenai kajiselidik tumbuhan tempatan yang mempunyai faedah perubatan.
Manakala pada sebelah petang, para peserta berpeluang untuk menimba ilmu daripada Kepten Dr Jonathan Stahl dari TLAS mengenai kapasiti kajiselidik perubatan TLAS di pelbagai lokasi di dunia, Dr. Pg Khairulhazman dari Kementerian Kesihatan mengenai beban penyakit tidak berjangkit yang berleluasa di Brunei Darussalam akibat perubahan gaya hidup dan permakanan, dan Dr. Fathi Alikhan dari Kementerian Kesihatan mengenai penyakit
Knowlesi Malaria yang melibatkan parasit dari spesies monyet tertentu di Pulau Borneo.
Para penceramah jemputan juga menerima tanda penghargaan yang disempurnakan oleh Yang Mulia Kolonel Dr Haji Awang Mohd Hafizul bin Haji Awang Mohd Hassan, Ketua Pegawai Perubatan selaku Penaung Majlis semasa Majlis Penutup yang diadakan di sebelah petang.