Opening of the Seventh Arab Regional Conference on Military Medicine and the Seventh Maghreb Conference on Military Medicine

Under the high patronage of His Excellency the President of the Republic, Mr. Mohamed Ould Cheikh El Ghazouani, the Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces, the works of the 7th Arab Regional Military Medicine Conference, held concurrently with the 7th Maghreb Military Medicine Conference, began today, Monday, at the Old Conference Palace (Mokhtar Ould Daddah) in Nouakchott.

This conference, organized by the General Directorate of Health Services for the Armed Forces and Security Forces, in cooperation with the International Committee of Military Medicine, under the theme “Military Medicine 2025: Reality and Challenges,” aims to exchange research experiences on the current reality and challenges of military medicine, the history of modern medicine and the development of military health services, the role of military health in facing security threats, addressing emerging diseases, and providing medical support in field operational realities.

The three-day conference will also highlight new innovative technologies, such as robotic surgery, advanced imaging techniques, artificial intelligence, and smart management of medical resources.

In his speech on the occasion, the Chief of Staff of the Armed Forces, General Mohamed Ould Fal Al-Rais, welcomed the participants to this conference, held under the high patronage of His Excellency the President of the Republic, Mr. Mohamed Ould Cheikh El Ghazouani, the Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces.

He stated that the military health sector in Mauritania has kept pace with the significant development experienced by our armed forces and security forces, being the institution responsible for protecting the territorial integrity of the country and ensuring safety and security across its entire territory.

He added that in this context, many new military medical centers have been established, including specialized ones, advanced medical equipment has been acquired, and a significant number of military doctors and technicians have been recruited and trained, with their skills and expertise being developed in all specialties. Preparations are also underway to build a new military hospital, which will allow the scope of medical interventions to be expanded to include hundreds of thousands of citizens and residents.

He clarified that the country’s top leadership places this sector at the center of its priorities, affirming that the General Staff of the Armed Forces continues on this path in implementation of the high directives of His Excellency the President of the Republic, Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces, Mr. Mohamed Ould Ghazouani, who frequently emphasizes the importance of strengthening cooperation and partnership with brotherly and friendly countries in this vital and sensitive field, which here contributes to the objectives of the Arab joint action component, one of the most important sources of environmental development.

Pharmacist Colonel Mohamed Mahmoud Al-Talib Gado, Director General of the Health Service for the Armed Forces and Security Forces, and the newly appointed head of the Regional Working Group on Military Medicine for Arab and Maghreb countries, explained that organizing these two conferences will allow participants to exchange expertise, experiences, and opinions capable of advancing toward better horizons in this field and addressing the challenges that hinder the development of military medical cooperation.

He stated that Mauritania hosting this regional conference on military medicine under the high patronage of His Excellency the President of the Republic affirms the importance of the steps our country has taken in this field.

As for Major General Dr. Omar Agadir, the former president of the Regional Working Group for Military Medicine for Arab and Maghreb countries, he expressed the participants’ happiness at being in their second home, Mauritania, praising the level and precision of the organization and the genuine hospitality and generosity in Mauritania.

He added that addressing the topic of military medicine reflects the magnitude of the challenges facing humanity, which necessitates further cooperation, integration, and increased efforts to confront these challenges.

For his part, the Secretary-General of the International Committee of Military Medicine, Major General Dr. Abier Renix, expressed his gratitude to the Mauritanian authorities and the General Staff for hosting this important scientific event, praising in this regard the significant progress made by military medicine in Mauritania.

He added that the challenges posed by wars, natural disasters, climate change, and other issues facing humanity as a whole require everyone, locally, internationally, and globally, to develop strategies and policies that match the scale of these challenges.

He stressed the importance of exchanging experiences and expertise, intensifying continuous training, and developing the skills and competencies of all personnel in this field and in all areas related to military medicine, affirming the committee’s readiness to play its designated role in this field.

The conference opening ceremony was marked by the signing of a document to exchange responsibilities between the new head of the Regional Working Group for Military Medicine of the Arab and Maghreb countries, pharmacist Colonel Mohamed Mahmoud Al-Talib Jaddou, Director General of Health Services for the Armed Forces and Security Forces, and Dr. Major General Omar Agadir, the former head of the Regional Working Group for Military Medicine of the Arab and Maghreb countries.

The opening ceremony of the conference was attended by the Director of the Military Hospital in Nouakchott, Pharmacist Colonel Abdel Malik Mohamed Abdel Malik, along with a number of senior officers, ambassadors of brotherly and friendly countries, and military attachés accredite