It is the first airlift of Vietnam’s L2FH No.1 to the African country with 32 personnel and medical equipment. The second one is scheduled to be carried out in two weeks’ time.
Troops of Vietnam’s L2FH No.1 was welcomed by Lieutenant Colonel Weiguang Wang, Chief Medical Officer of the United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS), Commanding Officer of the UK’s L2FH Scott Fitzgerald in Bentiu, and advance mission of the Vietnamese Ministry of National Defense.
    |
 |
|
Members of Vietnam’s L2FH No.1 at Juba International Airport in South Sudan |
On the evening of the same day, Colonel Mac Duc Trong, head of the advance mission of the Vietnamese Ministry of National Defense, and members of Vietnam’s L2FH No.1, had a meeting with the commanding staff of the UK’s L2FH, which is stationed in Bentiu.
During the event, Commanding Officer Scott Fitzgerald shared essential information about the situations in Bentiu and introduced the structure of the hospital. Both sides also agreed on the plan for the handover and takeover of the two L2FHs.
Colonel Mac Duc Trong noted that the UK’s L2FH will hand over facilities including canvas tents, power system, and a standard operating procedures (SOP) built from their experience in many years. Vietnam’s L2FH No.1 will apply and modify (if necessary) the UK’s SOPs during their mission, he added.
Lieutenant Colonel Pham Quang Thieu, Deputy Director of Vietnam’s L2FH No.1, who is in charge of logistical and technical management of the hospital, said that the hospital has developed a concrete plan for its first twenty-four-hour operation in Bentiu.
After the handover and takeover process between the two sides’ commanding officers, members of Vietnam’s L2FH No.1 will work directly with UK counterparts to quickly take over their missions.
As scheduled, members of Vietnam’s L2FH No.1 will move from Juba to Bentiu on October 3.
Reported by My Hanh from South Sudan
Translated by Trung Thanh