Obama to fly in with his own doctorsBy NALINEE SEELAL Wednesday, April 1 2009
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Brigadier General Dr Richard J Tubb... US President Barrack Obama's doctor....
Barack Obama’s personal physician and medial team will travel with him to Trinidad on April 17, and the United States (US) president is even bringing his own supply of blood in case he needs emergency treatment.
Security sources said yesterday Obama will not take up Health Minister Jerry Narace’s offer to receive treatment at any local hospital should he fall ill while here for the Summit of the Americas. On March 19, Narace said American officials had said they were confident their president could receive proper treatment at local health facilities in case of a medical emergency.
“The United States Embassy has been in touch with the Ministry of Health, and they have advised us that they have full confidence in the healthcare system of Trinidad and Tobago.
“They have gone as far as saying that if something happens to President Obama, they would expect that he would be treated in Trinidad and Tobago by our healthcare system and they are going to be putting out a statement reaffirming the same very shortly,” Narace had said. However, the embassy’s public affairs officer Dr Michelle Jones yesterday said the United States does not endorse any country’s health facilities.
“We don’t endorse anybody’s healthcare system and we will not be issuing any statement with regards to the healthcare system in Trinidad and Tobago,” Jones told Newsday. The medical team travelling with Obama will be supervised by Brigadier General Dr Richard J Tubb, director of White House Medical Unit, who is also the president’s personal physician. As president, Obama is always accompanied on board the presidential aircraft, Air Force One, by a medical team whenever he goes overseas, Jones said.
Obama is also expected to have a supply of his AB blood type in case he has to undergo any emergency transfusions aboard Air Force One which is equipped with a fold-out operating table and pharmacy. Obama is reported to be in excellent health.
Last evening, the US president arrived in London, England with a team of six doctors. He is in London to attend a meeting of the top twenty countries (G-20) to discuss the global economic crisis. Obama not only has a medical team to look after his health but he has a staff of chefs as well.
On his first flight aboard Airforce One, which is known as the “Flying White House,” on February 5, Obama ordered his chef to provide him with a cheeseburger, fries and a salad.
According to one report, “when the president travels, the White House travels with him, right down to the car he drives, the water he drinks, the gasoline he uses, the food he eats.”
On Monday, Newsday reported Obama’s armoured limousine, referred to as “The Beast”, will be flown to Trinidad ahead of his arrival. The vehicle, which is equipped with rocket-propelled grenades, a night vision camera, and pump-action shotguns, has also been taken to London for Obama’s first trip as president outside of North America.
