Barbados Defence Force Medal Ceremony

Barbados Defence Force Medal Ceremony

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Barbados Defence Force Medal Ceremony

BDF Media Release| 16 July 19

Photography credit: BDF Media

The Barbados Defence Force awarded servicepersons in a Medal Ceremony for their contributions to Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief (HA/DR), Building Rehabilitation and to the CARICOM Disaster Response Unit.  Prime Minister, the Honourable Mia Mottley, Members of the Defence Board and the Deputy Executive Director of the Regional Security System presented the medals. HA/DR operations encompass a wide variety of tasks including security and relief supplies distribution needed in the immediate aftermath of a catastrophic event.

The Prime Minister in her feature address, reaffirmed the importance of the Barbados Defence Force in protecting Barbados’ values and interests; youth development through the Barbados Cadet Corps and Sports Programme and the support to our Regional brothers and sisters during perilous times. She further emphasized that the contributions made yearly and especially during the period of the Atlantic Weather Systems, the efforts made by the men and women of the BDF cannot be underscored or taken lightly.

It is through the recognition of these efforts that the Prime Minister encouraged and endorsed the strengthening of the Barbados Cadet Corps Sea Cadet Programme by 1,000 members.

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Prime Minister Mottley congratulated the members of the Force who received the Meritorious Service Medal (MSM), General Service Medal (GSM) and the Regional Security System Medal (RSSM). The MSM was presented to Major Patrick Skeete for his contribution to youth development in Barbados and the Caribbean.

Seventy-eight (78) members of the BDF who participated in HA/DR relief operations under the auspices of the Regional Security System in the Commonwealth of Dominica, Operation SISSEROU in 2015. Included in the recipients of the GSM was Mrs Doreen Louis–Prescott, mother of the late Private Daniel Louis who died in a vehicle accident in December 2016. Fifteen servicepersons who participated in CARICOM Disaster Relief Unit operations in the British Virgin Islands in 2017 received the GSM or clasps.

The RSSM was presented to 232 servicepersons who participated in HA/DR operations in the Commonwealth of Dominica, Operation SUPPETIOR in 2017 and to members who participated in RSS disaster response housing rehabilitation operations in Barbuda in 2018.

In the military, the awarding of medals and commendations enjoy a richly symbolic purpose of duly recognizing its servicepersons. It is deeply rooted in the finest traditions of the profession-of-arms whereby ceremonies such as this salute the qualities of sacrifice, determination and courage.

 

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Barbados Receives Positive Reviews Field Medical Facility

Barbados Receives Positive Reviews Field Medical Facility

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Barbados Receives Positive Reviews Field Medical Facility

BDF Media Release| 19 June 19

Photography credit: Lieutenant S Gollop

Barbados has been described as a leader in the Caribbean for its establishment and development of the Barbados Defence Force (BDF) Field Medical Facility (FMF). Over the last two days several agencies and organizations visited the campsite at the Biabou Playing Field in St. Vincent and the Grenadines where the Facility is presently posted to take part in Exercise Tradewinds 2019.

Pan-American Health Organization’s (PAHO) Operations Coordinator of the Emergency Medical Team of Costa Rica, Dr. Milton Salazar Acuña, also visited the campsite. “Barbados has made a big, big effort in doing things right and should be proud of all the good things that they are doing. They are leading the Caribbean region in this aspect,” he stated.

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He said the standards of the World Health Organization (WHO) and PAHO proved to be a good guide for Barbados’ emergency medical team to follow. “I can see the triage area, the treatment area and the gynaecological area, and most of the standards are met which is very important for the region,” he said. He added that the Region could be struck by a disaster at any time, and it was of vital importance to have the readiness to help with the humanitarian effort throughout the Region and Barbados.

The Operations Coordinator also noted that the idea was that in the future every country would have its own medical facility or medical team with standards that are set by the WHO and PAHO so that if they are affected they could respond, and be assisted by other countries. “Everybody can enhance the capabilities of immediate medical treatment throughout the region,” he said. The FMF also received visits from Deputy Director of the Caribbean Disaster Emergency Management Agency, officials from USAID, the Canadian Forces, United States of America Coast Guard, the National Emergency Management Organization of St. Vincent and the Grenadines and the island’s Red Cross.

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Training Essential for BDF FMF Doctors & Nurses

Training Essential for BDF FMF Doctors & Nurses

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Training Essential for BDF FMF Doctors & Nurses

BDF Media Release| 19 June 19

Photography credit: Lieutenant S Gollop

Continuous training for doctors and nurses in the Barbados Defence Force (BDF) Field Medical Facility) has been flagged as one of the critical factors that needs to be in place for its continued success. Emergency Room Specialist in Barbados, Dr. Hiliary Moore, singled out this fact after acting in the role of Clinical Director in charge of the FMF on day one of the Facility’s participation during Exercise Tradewinds 2019 (EX TW19) in St. Vincent and the Grenadines yesterday.

“A Field Medical Facility involves a lot of training…we have gone into our special niches with time and with years, but we need to understand this encompasses many different things,” she said. Using herself as an example, Dr. Moore said she did not generally manage matters related to hypertension, but in a FMF setting, persons would likely present with uncontrolled blood pressure. “So we all need to know what are the basic things to manage hypertension.”

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Dr. Moore added that persons in the medical area also needed to be able to offer some form of psychological support when treating patients when deploying to disaster areas to treat to their emotional and mental needs. “Imagine somebody who can’t find their family; they can’t find their friends; they don’t know what happened; they could have been in an area where their roof dropped in on them; it is traumatic. “[So], It is important that everybody in the medical area is able to do some kind of psychological support also because even if you have psychologists they will not be enough for the psychological component of any disaster,” she said.

However, that training requirement also extends to the area of equipment. Dr. Moore said that they wanted to move towards using hand-held ultra sound machines in the Type One Facility, or portable ultra sound machines which are used for obstetrics and generally. She explained this may become necessary as patients in the aftermath of a disaster may suffer from malnutrition having not eaten or drank anything for days. “So even if you want to set-up a line, you would need to be able to see them. Some of us are already trained [in what to do] and we hope to train more so we could have IV (intra venous) access so we can replenish fluids in people that need it urgently,” the Emergency Room Specialist noted.

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Exercise Tradewinds 2019

Exercise Tradewinds 2019

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Exercise Tradewinds 2019

BDF Media Release| 17 Jun 19

Photography credit: Lieutenant Shimar Gollop 

The Barbados Defence Force (BDF) Field Medical Facility (FMF) will be participating in Exercise TRADEWINDS 2019 (TW19) Phase 2 in St Vincent and the Grenadines (SVG) during the period 14 – 22 June 2019. This year’s exercise will allow the BDF FMF to assess its capacity to function as part of a Regional response mechanism.

The Barbados Defence Force (BDF) has responded to numerous Sudden Onset Disasters (SODs) throughout the Region for 4 decades. This response has mainly been through the provision of security elements to sustain law and order, humanitarian relief units and also artisans to assist with the rehabilitation of the affected areas. This was indeed the case after the devastation of the Category Five and Category Five plus hurricanes of the 2017 hurricane season, as the BDF provided support in several affected countries including the Commonwealth of Dominica, Antigua and Barbuda, British Virgin Islands and the Turks and Caicos Islands.

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Post Dominica 2017, it was realized that there was a need to further develop the medical response capabilities of the military. The main local hospital was severely impacted and while there were medical teams from various countries and Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs) present to assist, there was no one unified Caribbean response. To this end, after engagement with the Pan American Health Organisation (PAHO) and in consultation with Lt Col (Ret’d) Gittens, it was decided to establish a Medical Facility that would meet the World Health Organisation Emergency Medical Team standards.

The EMT would be deployable locally in the event that the health care system was severely impacted in the aftermath of an SOD or that the system was overwhelmed in some way and also regionally under the auspices of the Regional Security System (RSS).

The BDF has embarked on the process of developing a Type 2 Emergency Medical Team but is first focused on the development of the Type 1. The Type 1 provides mainly outpatient care and stabilization and referral of major trauma cases. The Type 2 not only provides outpatient care but also provides in-patient care and has Operating Theatre capabilities.

To date the BDF has received a number of donations of equipment from partner nations and partner organisations and has enlisted the assistance of over one hundred and thirty (130) volunteers. These volunteers currently train on a monthly basis and have been exposed to basic military training and the various elements of the operations of a Field Medical Facility.

It is envisaged that the team will receive its verification as a Type 1 Emergency Medical Team in July 2019. Once this is completed, the BDF will work towards obtaining the Type 2 verification in 2020.

The BDF FMF comprising of military and para-military personnel, doctors, nurses and civilian volunteers, is led by Major Junior Browne, Major (ret’d) Marilyn Patrick and Major Andrew Darlington. 

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National Hurricane Exercise

National Hurricane Exercise

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National Hurricane Exercise Phase 1

BDF Media Release| 5 June 19

Photography credit: Corporal Maynard D 

The Barbados Defence Force (BDF) in collaboration with the Department of Emergency Management (DEM) over the next 3 days will conduct the National Hurricane Exercise Tabletop Exercise at the Accra Beach Hotel and Spa.

Given the vulnerability of Barbados to natural and anthropogenic hazards, the exercise titled; Exercise Complex Trident is designed to detect and address the deficiencies in the National Emergency Management System’s (NEMS) plans, protocols and procedures.

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FIFA PRESIDENT CONGRATULATES BDF SPORTS PROGRAMME FOOTBALLERS

FIFA PRESIDENT CONGRATULATES BDF SPORTS PROGRAMME FOOTBALLERS

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FIFA President Congratulates BDF Footballers

BDF Media Release| 29 May 19

Photography credit: FIFA.com

President of FIFA, Mr Gianni Infantino, in a letter to President of the BFA Mr Randy Harris, expressed congratulatory sentiments to the BDF Sports Programme Footballers and coaches, who are the BFA Premiere League Champions 2019.

The letter reads;

“I was delighted to hear that Barbados Defence Force SP have been crowned 2018/19 champions of Barbados. It gives me great pleasure to congratulate them for their sixth championship title!

 This is, no doubt, the result of effort and hard work, and everybody involved can be proud of this great achievement. I shall be grateful if you could extend my congratulations to the players, the coach, the administration, the entire technical and medical staff as well as the fans. I encourage them to continue working with determination and motivation!

 On behalf of the international football community, I take this opportunity to thank Barbados Defence Force SP and your association for helping spread the positive message of football and foster the practice of this beautiful game that unites us all.”