The first international conference on “Development, standardization and implementation of tactical medicine in Ukraine” was held in Kyiv 19-21 January 2015. The organizer of the event was the Ukrainian World Congress (UWC) humanitarian initiative Patriot Defence that conducts tactical medicine training in accordance with U.S. and NATO standards.
The conference was attended by over 450 participants from around the world, including U.S. army experts and military doctors from Canada and Europe. Parallel to the panel discussions participants were acquainted with practical methods of tactical medicine with an exhibition of foreign and domestic goods.
Eight Ukrainian photojournalists and documentary photographers (Alex Furman, Max Levine, Roman Philip, Anastasia Vlasova, Maxim Dondyuk, John Bogdan, Peter Zadorozhnyy and Alexander Ratushnyak) provided photos they had taken while working in the war zone in Eastern Ukraine. The photo exhibit on display during the conference was devoted to the conditions of field medicine and medical support for Ukrainian soldiers.
The opening of the conference was attended by Minister of Health of Ukraine Аlexander Kvitashvili, Head of the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) Valentyn Nalyvaichenko, Chair of the Health Care Committee of the Verkhovna Rada Olha Bohomolets, and representatives of Ukraine’s Ministry of Defense, State Security Administration, Ministry of Internal Affairs, State Border Service and other security agencies.
Head of the SBU Valentyn Nalyvaichenko and UWC Director of Humanitarian Initiatives Dr. Ulana Suprun signed a Memorandum of Understanding in the field of tactical medicine between the Ukrainian World Congress humanitarian initiative Patriot Defence and the Security Service of Ukraine.
Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine Pavlo Klimkin issued a statement, which stressed the importance of furthering the training of Ukrainian soldiers under the Patriot Defence program and expressed wishes for the continued success of the initiative.
During the conference, medics of Ukraine’s armed forces, volunteer battalions, volunteer organizations, representatives of military universities, military attachés, U.S. specialists in tactical medicine and representatives of NATO member states drafted a resolution, which is currently being finalized.
On the last day of the conference Patriot Defence instructors conducted a short Combat Lifesaver Training course for all interested participants. The course was divided into four thematic sections and covered the most practical skills for saving yourself and a friend in case of injury.
Patriot Defence hopes that the next conference on tactical medicine will be organized at the state level, with the support of the armed forces and under peaceful conditions in Ukraine.
On 22 January 2015 Patriot Defence began a training program for final year students in military educational institutions expected to graduate early in March. The first students to complete the Patriot Defence Combat Lifesaver Training will be from the Ivan Chernyakhovksyi National University of Defence of Ukraine.
Patriot Defence is grateful to the media for any feedback and links to coverage. With comments, for interviews and coverage of the work of Patriot Defence – please call – (+38)093 840 8209 or e-mail – [email protected].
For more on the conference visit the UWC and Patriot Defence websites.
Photo Gallery
