LAMAT 2026 brings medical care and boosts readiness in Suriname

PARAMARIBO, Suriname — A two-week health security cooperation engagement by the Lesser Antilles Medical Assistance Team (LAMAT) 2026 wrapped up April 23 with a closing ceremony at Suriname’s Ministry of Health headquarters, marking the end of coordinated medical activities between U.S. Air Force personnel and Surinamese health care providers.

The effort brought 47 U.S. medical and support personnel together with Surinamese counterparts across sites in Paramaribo, Nickerie and Brownsweg. Teams delivered patient care while focusing on strengthening clinical capability and readiness through hands-on treatment and structured knowledge exchange.

“LAMAT is not just about what one nation provides to another; it’s about what we build together,” said Brig. Gen. Eveline Yao, Air Force Medical Command special assistant to the commander. “While patients receive care that is deeply meaningful, what matters just as much is that both our teams leave stronger, more capable and more ready for what comes next. When our nations are called, whether for disaster response or humanitarian crises or contingency operations, we are prepared to act quickly, effectively and together.”

Officials from the U.S. Embassy in Paramaribo and Suriname’s defense and health ministries attended the ceremony. Over the course of the mission, teams treated more than 2,000 patients, distributed more than 3,000 eyeglasses and completed 432 hours of knowledge exchange with Surinamese providers.

“You know who your friends are by who shows up, and that’s what we do, that’s what we’ve done for decades,” said Paul Watzlavick, chargé d’affaires, U.S. Embassy Paramaribo. “It’s not only healthcare, but it’s also skills-building, capacity-building, it’s relationship-building. Medical care is a critical part, but it’s the people-to-people relationships, the ability to build lasting connections that’s important.”

Surinamese leaders underscored the impact on local services and training. “We are thankful to support LAMAT 2026,” said Dr. Rakesh Sukul, Suriname Ministry of Health director. “This mission comes after much planning, and I pass on my sincere thanks to the entire team and the entire United States for this effort. There is always room here to have this collaboration and to make use of your skills, to learn from each other. With this partnership, we will achieve our goal of serving patients, and we hope to go further.”

Across all locations, medical teams provided care in resource-limited environments, adapting to changing conditions and working alongside host-nation providers to share techniques and strengthen collective capability. Participants used the deployment to refine clinical skills, increase adaptability and enhance readiness for austere and contingency settings.

LAMAT 2026 is part of a series of U.S. Air Force-led medical engagements across Latin America and the Caribbean aimed at strengthening partnerships, improving interoperability and enhancing readiness while delivering essential care.