Military Medicine Meet In Delhi To Discuss Aspects Of Women In Combat

With the induction of women in combat roles, it is essential to discuss the crucial aspects like medical emergencies. The World Congress of International Committee on Military Medicine (ICMM) will hold deliberations in this regard in Delhi between November 19 and 24. The conference will see nearly 350 doctors from the armed forces of 80 nations.

Since the Air Force is training three women fighter pilots and the army is also appointing women in combat roles, the panel will talk on the crucial aspects of women now entering the forces.

"We have no experience in what special changes we need to do in regards to women in combat roles"

"We have no experience in what special changes we need to do in regards to women in combat roles," Air Commodore Rajesh Vaidya said, Money Control reported.

Other sessions will include discussions on how to deal with chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear exigencies, said Lieutenant General Bipin Puri, Director-General of the Armed Forces Medical Service.

He added, “The primary mission of ICMM is to maintain and strengthen bond of cooperation and knowledge between the armed forces medical service of the member states.”

The deliberation will have 26 sessions on medical emergencies in Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief exercises, health screening of recruits, health of veterans and terrain specific military medical support.

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While the 112-member ICMM was founded in 1921, India joined the Committee in 1949.

Recently, Indian Navy also allowed 20 women war-fighters to trace Chinese warships and submarines in the Indian Ocean. The war-fighters are on board Navy’s superior anti-submarine warfare aircraft, the US-built Poseidon 8-India (P-8I).

Initially, Navy had inducted women as observers in 2009 but gradually as they gained experience they have become system specialists. And the senior-most rank that the woman combat aviator has reached is the rank of commander.

The women officers, operating on P-8s, will have access to all key censors, including weapon system. In case of conflict, if they have to attack enemy submarines,they can approach torpedoes and missiles.

Picture credit- NDTV