Vietnam and US work together to train lecturers on explosives and first aid

PANO – On August 26, US Deputy Ambassador to Vietnam Susan Sutton visited trainees at the training course on dealing with explosives and providing first aid at the Engineering Technical School (under the Engineering Arm).

The training course, running from August 8 to 31, is part of the program to implement a memorandum of understanding (MoU) on clearance of post-war unexploded ordnance (UXO) between Vietnam’s Steering Committee for the National Action Program on overcoming the aftermath of bombs, mines and explosives left behind by the war (Steering Committee 504 in short) and the US Department of State.

An overview of the working session

Speaking at the meeting, Deputy Director of the Vietnam Mine Action Center (VNMAC) Nguyen Van Nghiep highly valued the visit of Ms. Susan Sutton and her entourage. He stressed that Vietnam wishes to continue receiving support and cooperation from the US Government and the US Embassy to Vietnam for dealing with UXOs in Vietnam.

Regarding the period of 2016- 2020, the US side is proposed to provide more assistance for Program 504, especially in UXO clearance projects, technical field surveys, and improvement  of VNMAC’s capacity, he added.

US Deputy Ambassador to Vietnam Susan Sutton presenting gifts to trainees

A trainee practising steps of first aid

Ms. Susan Sutton posing a photo with trainees and lecturers of the training course

For her part, Ms. Susan Sutton held that the training program not only contributes to enhancing professional expertise of Vietnamese engineers in detecting and defusing bombs and mines and providing first aid to victims of UXOs, but also strengthens the two armies’ cooperation on dealing with the post-war UXO consequences.

The five-level training program will be implemented until 2020. During the course, trainees will be provided with knowledge, skills, experience and teaching methods in line with the International Mine Action Standards (IMAS) for detecting and dealing with bombs and mines and providing first aid. After the course, the trainees who met the international standards will be promoted to instructors.