Luanda: The 21st Military Health Meeting of the Community of Portuguese-Speaking Countries (CPLP) began on Tuesday in Luanda. Experts in the field are participating in the meeting with the goal of strengthening knowledge cooperation among member states.
According to Angola Press News Agency, the two-day meeting has the general theme "Cooperation and Interoperability in Military Health: Strengthening Capacities," and was opened by the Minister of State and Head of the Military House of the President of the Republic, Francisco Furtado. The head of the Health Services of the General Staff of the Angolan Armed Forces, Brigadier Alberto de Almeida, highlighted the forum as an opportunity for the exchange of experiences among the participating countries.
He mentioned that the first phase of the meeting includes presentations of scientific papers and research, providing participants an opportunity to learn about different practices and technologies applied to military health. The Director of Military Health of the Portuguese Armed Forces, rear admiral Francisco Guerreiro, emphasized the importance of the meeting as a space for rapprochement, enabling the strengthening of cooperation and the exchange of knowledge in military health.
Guerreiro further noted that Portugal maintains several training and internship programs aimed at military health professionals from CPLP countries. These programs are conducted both in Portuguese territory and in partner countries. He stressed the significance of investing in the armed forces, particularly in military health, to ensure assistance to military personnel, their families, and citizens in emergency situations.
Brigadier General Carla Marchon, the director of the Department of Health and Social Assistance of the Brazilian Ministry of Defense, underscored the importance of collaboration among Portuguese-speaking countries in addressing current health challenges. She highlighted the complexity of these issues, which necessitate shared responses between civilians and the military.
The meeting's agenda includes discussions on topics such as the mental health of military personnel, operational health, nuclear, biological, chemical, and radiological defense, response to health emergencies, digital health, and the use of artificial intelligence in military medicine. The CPLP, established in 1996, comprises nine member states: Angola, Brazil, Cape Verde, Guinea-Bissau, Equatorial Guinea, Mozambique, Portugal, So Tom© and Prncipe, and East Timor.
