13 Aug 2007 | OPS & TRAINING
SAF DENTAL TEAM RETURNS FROM AFGHANISTAN
STORY // Brendan Mark Foo
PHOTO // Aloysius Tan
PHOTO // Aloysius Tan
A five-man team returned to Singapore on 12 Aug after completing a dental project in Bamiyan Province, Afghanistan.
Led by Lieutenant-Colonel (LTC) Lee Kuan Chung, the team from the Singapore Armed Forces (SAF) was deployed as part of the New Zealand Defence Force's (NZDF) Provincial Reconstruction Team (PRT) in May.
This humanitarian assistance project is part of Singapore's overall contribution to international humanitarian and reconstruction efforts in Afghanistan.
The team established the province's first dental clinic at the Bamiyan Hospital, which was opened by Governor of Bamiyan Dr Habiba Sarabi on 10 Jun.
Team members also conducted a dental assistance course and provided on-the-job training for an Afghan dentist and two Afghan dental assistants, who will continue to run the clinic.
During their eight weeks there, the team also provided dental healthcare and services to the local population. They handled more than 900 patients and performed over 1200 procedures.
The SAF team also conducted a dental awareness workshop for 18 Afghan personnel and participated in community projects with the PRT.
Currently, a five-man SAF engineering team, led by LTC Ong Chia Chong, is deployed in Bamiyan. This Engineer Project Team (EPT) will be there till end October.
Working with the New Zealand forces, this team will be involved in managing and supervising local contractors, constructing bridges as well as studying the feasibility of building humanitarian assistance warehouses.
The team was sent off at a simple ceremony held at the School of Combat Engineers (SCE) on 19 Jul, where Commander Army Training Doctrine Brigadier-General Goh Kee Nguan presented LTC Ong with a state flag.
BG Goh said Singapore's participation in this reconstruction effort reflected her "continuing commitment as a member of the international community" to strive for "peace, stability and security at a regional and international level".
Speaking to cyberpioneer, LTC Ong said: "I'll do my very best to 'fly the flag', and do the SAF and Singapore proud for this mission."
"The rest of the team will do the same," he added.
Led by Lieutenant-Colonel (LTC) Lee Kuan Chung, the team from the Singapore Armed Forces (SAF) was deployed as part of the New Zealand Defence Force's (NZDF) Provincial Reconstruction Team (PRT) in May.
This humanitarian assistance project is part of Singapore's overall contribution to international humanitarian and reconstruction efforts in Afghanistan.
The team established the province's first dental clinic at the Bamiyan Hospital, which was opened by Governor of Bamiyan Dr Habiba Sarabi on 10 Jun.
Team members also conducted a dental assistance course and provided on-the-job training for an Afghan dentist and two Afghan dental assistants, who will continue to run the clinic.
During their eight weeks there, the team also provided dental healthcare and services to the local population. They handled more than 900 patients and performed over 1200 procedures.
The SAF team also conducted a dental awareness workshop for 18 Afghan personnel and participated in community projects with the PRT.
Currently, a five-man SAF engineering team, led by LTC Ong Chia Chong, is deployed in Bamiyan. This Engineer Project Team (EPT) will be there till end October.
Working with the New Zealand forces, this team will be involved in managing and supervising local contractors, constructing bridges as well as studying the feasibility of building humanitarian assistance warehouses.
The team was sent off at a simple ceremony held at the School of Combat Engineers (SCE) on 19 Jul, where Commander Army Training Doctrine Brigadier-General Goh Kee Nguan presented LTC Ong with a state flag.
BG Goh said Singapore's participation in this reconstruction effort reflected her "continuing commitment as a member of the international community" to strive for "peace, stability and security at a regional and international level".
Speaking to cyberpioneer, LTC Ong said: "I'll do my very best to 'fly the flag', and do the SAF and Singapore proud for this mission."
"The rest of the team will do the same," he added.
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