For Immediate Release OPHS Communications OfficeDecember 29, 2008 202-205-0143 (O)

Memorandum of Understanding Solidifies Global Health DiplomacyEfforts between the U.S. Public Health Service and SOUTHCOM

MIAMI –Assistant Secretary for Health Joxel Garcia, M.D., M.B.A., a four-star admiralin the U.S. Public Health Service, has announced a Memorandum of Understanding(MOU) between the Public Health Service and the U.S. Southern Command(SOUTHCOM) of the Department of Defense. The MOU allows Commissioned Corpsofficers of the U.S. Public Health Service (USPHS) to participate in more health missionsserving underprivileged areas throughout Central, South America and the Caribbean.The MOU sets in place a framework for USPHS officers to participate in DoD MedicalReadiness and Training Exercises (MEDRETEs) in Central America, South America andthe Caribbean. The MEDRETEs are professional health care training for militarymedical teams that visit rural, underprivileged areas in the hemisphere. The program isone of the premier U.S. health diplomacy efforts in the region, giving American militaryhealth care personnel the opportunity to have a positive impact on thousands of peoplewhile providing invaluable real-world training for US troops.Over the past two years, HHS personnel have participated in Operation ContinuingPromise, a series of ship-based missions throughout Latin America and the Caribbeanwhich aim to foster goodwill while demonstrating the U.S. commitment and support bydelivering humanitarian assistance and medical care. Operation Continuing Promise is apartnership of the U.S. military, health professionals from the U.S. Public Health Service,and nongovernmental organizations such as Operation Smile and Project Hope whichtogether provide humanitarian, dental, and medical assistance, among other services.This MOU formalizes the existing collaborative relationship between the USPHS andSOUTHCOM, which has evolved from Operation Continuing Promise. “It willstrengthen the effects of our joint good will missions by bringing the gift of health andchanging the lives of countless individuals,” Adm. Garcia said."We are very excited about the impact our partnership with the U.S. Public HealthService is having on our training and humanitarian assistance efforts in the region. Thetalent and expertise that Commissioned Corps officers bring into these missions isimmeasurable and will undoubtedly help us achieve new successes in our efforts tosupport interagency efforts to deliver the promise of a better tomorrow for hundreds of thousands of citizens across the Americas," said Adm. James Stavridis, commander of U.S. Southern Command.The recent signing of this MOU, on Dec. 15, was preceded by the global healthdiplomacy briefing held by Adm. Garcia on Dec. 12 in Miami. That event discussed theimportance of furthering global health diplomacy in the Americas through interagencypartnerships.