Thailand becomes ASEAN Centre for Military Medicine

BANGKOK, June 3 (TNA) - Thailand houses the ASEAN Centre for Military Medicine (ACMM), which has been jointly set up by member countries of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) to become a major mechanism for their cooperation on military medicine in the region. Thai Armed Forces Chief General Worapong Sa-nganet, thus, inaugurated a military medicine forum of the Royal Thai Armed Forces, themed the ASEAN Centre for Military Medicine (ACMM), at the Royal Thai Armed Forces headquarters in Bangkok on Wednesday. While delivering his speech at the opening session of the forum, General Worapong said natural disasters and outbreaks of emerging diseases have become new forms of health threats in the region and needed proper preparations to cope with them. According to the Thai armed forces chief, ASEAN member countries have, therefore, set up the ACMM office in Thailand to become a key mechanism to coordinate their regional military medicine mission, particularly when there is a natural disaster, as the ACMM office plays a key role in cooperating with relevant agencies inside and outside ASEAN. The Thai supreme commander acknowledged the Royal Thai Armed Forces have targeted that their military personnel are well-prepared for their full mission once the ASEAN Community (AC) is formed by the end of this year, namely their developed skills and competitiveness for maximum benefits and practical use. Wednesday’s ACCM forum also included a special lecture on “the future direction of ASEAN’s military medicine,” by Thai medical experts from agencies concerned who shared their experiences in taking wounded patients back home, humanitarian services and disaster mitigation. (TNA)