Army Medical Information Paper Subject: Issues, resolutions and recommendations regarding preventive medicine support for enemy prisoners of war.
INFORMATION PAPER
bX3)-1
3 April 2003
SUBJECT: Issues, resolution and recommendations regarding preventive medicine
(PVNTMED) support for enemy prisoners of war (EPW).
1. REFERENCES:
a.
AR 190-8, Military Police: Enemy Prisoners of War, Retained Personnel, Civilian Internees and Other Detainees, 1 October 1997, paragraphs 3.3i (1-5) and 6.6a-g.
b.
FM 3-19.40, Military Police: Internment/Resettlement Operations, 1 August 2001, paragraphs 3-28, 3-48, 3-49 and 3-62.
c.
Armed Forces Pest Management Board, Technical Information Memorandum 6, Delousing Procedures for the Control of Louse-borne Disease During Contingency Operations, 13Apr 2001.
d.
United States Army Center for Health Promotion and Preventive Medicine, Technical Guide 276, Ultimate Preventive Medicine CD-ROM Resource Set, March 2002.
2.
PURPOSE. Summarize key issues, identify lessons learned and recommend courses of action on PVNTMED management of EPW and EPW camps.
3.
BACKGROUND.
a.
References cited identify regulatory guidance on what PVNTMED actions (eg hygiene, sanitation, medical care, records/reporting and associated activities) should be taken to insure the health and sanitary environment for EPW.
b.
There are very knowledgeable individuals within several organizations that can assist preventive medicine personnel in providing the consultative and knowledge base necessary for EPW PVNTMED management. Such organizations include the Armed Forces Medical Intelligence Center, the Armed Forces Pest Management Board (AFPMB), the United States Army Center for Health Promotion and Preventive Medicine (USACHPPM) and the Joint Readiness Clinical Advisory Board (JRCAB) plus others.
c.
During March & April, 2003 the Proponency Office for Preventive Medicine-San Antonio (POPM-SA) assisted the MEDCOM Logistics Plans and Readiness Division via submission of PVNTMED recommendations for the care of EPW.
4.
DISCUSSION.
a. Gathering and consolidating PVNTMED information for EPW was time consuming and sometimes confusing.
MEDCOM - 387
DOD 003514
b.
Identifying specific PVNTMED policie,s and techniques for hands on applications in an EPW camp environment was best accomplished by speaking with AMEDD personnel who had previously been involved with either EPW or refugee camps. Additional information was obtained by reviewing historical files from POPM-SA.
c.
There was considerable confusion regarding the usage of permethrin cream and cream rinse for the control of louse-borne disease. Information from the IRCAB and from the AFPMB seemed to conflict regarding usage of medicines on people and the usage of pesticides on clothing and bedding. The option of providing permethrin treated clothing to EPW was left open for interpretation in the regulatory guidance, eg being based upon "circumstances".
d.
Concerns were eventually resolved by coordinating among those with opposing viewpoints on acceptable PVNTMED approaches to EPW issues.
5. RECOMMENDATION. USACHPPM author a Technical Bulletin, Medical (TB-MED) on PVNTMED applications in an EPW camp environment. Such a proposed TBMED could also have potential application for a refugee camp where many people aregathered in close proximity.
b)(61-2.b)( b)(3)-1
COL. r--YI IMSN471 1
Email:41,X13)-2
MEDCOM - 388
DOD 003515