Civilian medical personnel deployed to Pakistan
Joint media release: Nicola Roxon MP, Minister for Health and Ageing and Stephen Smith MP, Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade
31 August 2010
A civilian medical team will be deployed to Pakistan today to provide medical, midwifery, and other health services to flood affected communities in Punjab Province.
The team will depart from Amberley Royal Australian Air Force Base to join Australian Defence Personnel already in Kot Addu as part of the joint AusAID and Australian Defence Force Medical Task Force.
“The medical team will support Pakistan health authorities to provide immediate, short-term health care and maternal and child health to the flood-affected population” said the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade, Stephen Smith.
The Minister for Health and Ageing, Nicola Roxon said “The civilian medical team includes doctors, nurses, paramedics and support personnel. They have been drawn from health agencies in the Northern Territory, Western Australia, Queensland and Victoria.”
The deployment of the team is coordinated by the Australian Government through Emergency Management Australia. Security is provided by the Pakistan military in consultation with the Australian Defence Force.
Up to 180 Australians are being deployed as part of the Medical Task Force, along with over 100 tonnes of supplies and equipment.
The first contingent of the Medical Task Force arrived in Kot Addu, in the vicinity of Multan, in the Muzaffar Garh District of the Punjab Province, on 25 August to establish the medical facility.
Today's departure of the first civilian medical team of the task force builds on the $35 million worth of assistance Australia has already provided.
“Australia will continue to work with the Pakistan Government to help meet immediate needs of its people and on the longer term recovery and reconstruction task,” Mr Smith said.
The Government has consulted with the Opposition on today's deployment.
Media inquiries
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