Abstract
Within the Canadian Armed Forces (CAF), public health is managed by the Directorate of Force Health Protection (DFHP), a branch of the Canadian Forces Health Services Group. Since the emergence of the novel coronavirus (SARS-CoV-19), DFHP has become heavily involved in health surveillance, outbreak monitoring, policy development, providing evidence-based guidance and advice, liaising with other national, provincial and territorial, municipal and international public health agencies, and ensuring environmental safety of CAF members. Some specific activities include supporting operations and deployments, amending policies and training and promoting hand hygiene, physical distancing and personal protective equipment use. In addition to taking measures to protect its members, CAF-Department of National Defence has contributed to Canada's national response to coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). The DFHP will be developing training for allied health professionals to assist with contact tracing and follow-up, and will ensure adequate resources are in place to manage surge capacity for COVID-19. With these ongoing efforts, initiatives and lessons learned, DFHP is well placed to carry on with its mandate to protect and promote the health and well-being of CAF members and National Defence civilian employees, assisting Canadians and ensuring that CAF members are ready to serve their missions at home and abroad.
Highlights
In December 2019, a novel coronavirus emerged in Wuhan, China, causing an outbreak of the infectious disease, coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), which has since become a widespread global pandemic (1)
Directorate of Force Health Protection (DFHP) is responsible for promoting the well-being of military members, and for epidemiological surveillance, communicable disease control and prevention, health promotion and occupational and environmental health
As such, during the COVID-19 outbreak, DFHP became heavily involved in health surveillance, outbreak monitoring, policy development, providing evidence-based guidance and advice, liaising with other national, provincial and territorial, municipal and international public health agencies, and ensuring the environmental safety of Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) members and Department of National Defence (DND) staff members
Summary
In December 2019, a novel coronavirus emerged in Wuhan, China, causing an outbreak of the infectious disease, coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), which has since become a widespread global pandemic (1). The role of Force Health Protection in the Canadian Armed Forces’ response to the COVID-19 pandemic.
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