Accra: The annual Medical Readiness Exercise (MEDREX 2025), organised by the United States Army Southern Europe Task Force-Africa, is currently taking place in Ghana. The activities are being conducted at the 37 Military Hospital, the Ghana Armed Forces (GAF) Veterinary Clinic, and the Ghana National Dog Academy in Accra.
According to Ghana News Agency, the exercise, which began on May 5 and is set to conclude on May 23, involves 27 U.S. medical professionals. These specialists in fields such as obstetrics and gynaecology, trauma and general surgery, critical care, dentistry, and veterinary services have been deployed from various U.S. military medical units. They are collaborating with Ghanaian military medical professionals at the designated locations.
MEDREX 2025 is part of Exercise African Lion 2025, overseen by the U.S. Africa Command. It represents the largest annual combined joint military exercise and is hosted by Ghana for the fourth consecutive year. The focus of the exercise is on joint planning, medical readiness, and military intelligence integration, aiming to prepare U.S. personnel to deliver care outside traditional clinical settings alongside their Ghanaian counterparts.
The initiative seeks to enhance skills in delivering rapid, adaptable, and resource-efficient medical care in support of large-scale combat operations. During a media briefing at the Department of Biomedical Engineering, 37 Military Hospital, moderated by Mr Matthew Asada, Press Attach© at the U.S. Embassy, U.S. medical team members shared their experiences and insights gained from the exercise.
Lieutenant Colonel Mary Stuever, a trauma surgeon and critical care specialist, noted the value of learning different approaches in various environments with limited resources. She expressed her willingness to return and continue learning from her Ghanaian counterparts. Similarly, Sergeant First Class Albert Kwadwo Nimako, a combat medic, highlighted his aspiration to contribute to his home country, Ghana, and acquire skills to effectively operate in resource-limited medical settings.
Since its launch on May 5, MEDREX 2025 has provided a platform for U.S. military humanitarian assistance and medical civic action programmes in Africa. This year's exercise also included joint security cooperation operations, conducted between May 8 and 16 in the regions of Kumbungu and Tamale.
