U.S. and Cameroonian forces wrapped up the last of three consecutive bi-lateral civil-military engagements with the conclusion of a combined health outreach, April 5.

U.S. Navy and Air Force medical personnel teamed with military and civilian professionals from Cameroon to provide a variety of health care services to approximately 1,300 people in a 5-day stretch.

The month-long engagement, which also consisted of construction of two health outposts and a medically-focused professional exchange, served to strengthen the U.S.-Cameroon partnership and increase the capacity of military and civilian medical practitioners.

“It’s a great time when we have engagements like this one for our people to see and experience the level of training we are getting from the Americans and show our presence in the villages as well,” said Cameroonian Col. Abeng Mbozo’o, Chief Medical Physician at the 2nd Military Region Hospital in Douala, Cameroon.

The efforts fall under Africa Partnership Station (APS), an international security cooperation initiative, facilitated by Commander, U.S. Naval Forces Europe-Africa, aimed at strengthening global maritime partnerships through training and collaborative activities to improve maritime safety and security in Africa.

“Coming to countries like Cameroon and teaching medical techniques not only helps the local population, it also makes the relationship our two countries have even stronger,” said Cmdr. Amy Wootten, assigned to Naval Hospital Portsmouth, Virginia.

Those that were part of the medical exchange also participated in the outreach. Ideas shared during the exchange were meant to enable local military, Battalion d’Intervention Rapide (B.I.R.) and Ministry of Health personnel to provide more effective health services.

“My experience to Cameroon is one I will never forget because of the country’s people, culture and how eager they are to learn and improve their country.” said Cmdr. Timothy Mott, assigned to Naval Hospital Pensacola, Florida.

As part of the outreach, the joint military medical team provided healthcare in pediatrics, primary care, optometry, child/maternal healthcare education while the Ministry of Health provided immunizations for vaccine-preventable diseases. U.S. and Cameroon medical professionals worked side-by-side to provide care for the Manoka population.

As part of the U.S. Navy's global maritime partnerships, APS was developed to support sustained, focused training and multinational and organizational collaboration on a regional scale in order to increase maritime safety and security in Africa.