Page 85 - JSOM Winter 2024

PM personnel promote health and educate people through illnesses, infections, and other hazards. The two identified
health campaigns and provide evidence-based knowledge on interventions were water treatment using liquid bleach and
disease prevention. They bolster Servicemembers’ readiness consistent hand washing. Using their previous experience,
and resilience by encouraging behavior change. the CA team developed a plan to share with the camp mayor
and collaborated with the medics to produce infographics for
Disease prevention using epidemiological surveillance is an in- troop dissemination to remind them of the importance of hand
3,4
tegral component of PM’s role. With surveillance techniques washing, consistent water treatment, and maintaining proper
and systems to track and analyze trends, PM personnel use personal hygiene (Figure 1).
epidemiological expertise to monitor disease trends and iden-
tify risk factors. Their data-driven approach empowers timely
responses and aids in curbing the spread of infectious diseases
among military personnel. PM evaluates environmental health
and industrial hygiene to control hazards that may jeopar-
3,4
dize Servicemembers’ health. By conducting rigorous water
and air quality assessments, ensuring food safety protocols,
and implementing occupational health measures, PM estab-
lishes safe living and working environments. By prioritizing
proactive interventions, PM safeguards the health of military
personnel, augmenting force readiness and optimizing overall
public health outcomes. 2–4 FIGURE 1 Public Health
infographic shared to
alert U.S. personnel to
Camp Hygiene potential risks.
Sanitation and hygiene are vital components of force health
protection for U.S. Servicemembers, regardless of their opera-
tional setting. For Servicemembers operating in the Philippines
during a multi-month exercise camp, hygiene was critical.
Proper hygiene practices, such as handwashing, maintaining
personal cleanliness, and practicing good oral hygiene, prevent
1
the transmission of infectious diseases that can quickly spread
in close living quarters. The risk of respiratory infections, gas-
trointestinal (GI) disorders, and skin infections can be reduced
with basic hygiene. By prioritizing hygiene, Servicemembers
can stay healthier, maintain optimal physical condition, and
be prepared to fulfill their mission requirements effectively. 1–4 The CA team demonstrated how to treat the water with liquid
bleach and test for residual chlorine at the point of use to reduce
Salaknib involves large numbers of personnel operating in close skin and other infections as well as GI illness from accidental
quarters over several months. This environment can facilitate ingestion. The CA non-commissioned officer explained how to
the spread of contagious diseases if proper hygiene measures conduct water treatment to the medical team and water con-
1
are not followed. Promoting hygiene practices, such as regular tractors (i.e., with iodine tablets, calcium hypochlorite, or liquid
cleaning and disinfection of shared spaces and adequate waste bleach) and described that the easiest and most cost- effective
management, as well as food safety protocols, minimizes the treatment method is bleach with daily residual testing at the
risk of disease outbreaks, ensuring the continuity of operations point of use—at the sinks—prevention techniques that could
and the well-being of the personnel involved. Maintaining equip the camp with better living conditions and reduce illnesses.
1
good hygiene practices not only protects individual Service- Following the dissemination of the infographics to Servicemem-
members but also contributes to the health and well-being of bers on the camp and consistent water treatment throughout
the surrounding community. 2–4 the camp’s water reservoirs, GI illnesses reduced to fewer than
half of the initial complaints just a week before, along with no
Salaknib 2023 other UTIs reported, according to the medical team.
Two members of the CA team, a public health nurse and a
CA non-commissioned officer with a secondary PM specialty, Rapid Response
met with the camp medical team after observing overall camp Rapid sharing of information is pivotal in slowing a public
conditions. The 25th Infantry Division’s medical team noted health disease outbreak. It enables effective communication,
1–6
an increasing number of GI complaints in the few weeks since providing timely, accurate information to the public, healthcare
the operation began, with almost a quarter of the camp pop- providers, and other stakeholders. Transparent communica-
ulation complaining of GI-related illness and close to 10% of tion helps prevent panic, dispels rumors, and guides individu-
the female Servicemembers presenting with urinary tract in- als in preventive measures. Early communication facilitates a
fections (UTIs). Further inquiry showed concern that the lack coordinated public health response by ensuring that relevant
of complete water treatment and poor personal hygiene led to parties access the same data, allowing for collaboration and
GI illnesses; additionally, water not being fully treated for per- strategic decision-making (Figure 2). This coordination opti-
sonal hygiene purposes compromised usual female personal mizes the allocation of resources, enhances surveillance and
hygiene, leading to UTIs. monitoring, and fosters international cooperation. Together,
effective communication and coordinated response efforts en-
The group identified changes to improve the water treatment able early detection, targeted interventions, and mitigation of
procedures and Servicemembers’ habits in order to reduce GI the outbreak’s impact on public health. 11–13

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