Air Force donates medical equipment to Kyrgyzstan

Photo By Tech. Sgt. Travis Edwards | Local nurses view a medical defibrillator after a medical equipment dedication ceremony at a woman’s prenatal clinic in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan, Dec. 11, 2013. The medical equipment donated consisted of 46 electrocardiograms (EKG) machines, five defibrillators and five bedside monitors, worth about $132,000. The medical supplies will help aid in the prevention and detection of cardiovascular disease which is the leading cause of death in Kyrgyzstan (nearly 50 percent). (U.S. Air Force photo/Staff Sgt. Travis Edwards)  

BISHKEK, KYRGYZSTAN

12.11.2013

Story by Staff Sgt. Travis Edwards 

376th Air Expeditionary Wing

BISHKEK, Kyrgyzstan - Airmen from the Transit Center at Manas, Kyrgyzstan, met with local medical professionals and the Kyrgyz Republic Deputy Minister of Health at a women's prenatal clinic here Dec. 11, 2013, to mark the donation of $132,000 worth of medical equipment.

"We can all appreciate the gift of life and this equipment has the potential to significantly reduce heart-disease deaths through early detection," said Col. James Knowles, 376th Expeditionary Medical Group commander, who is deployed from Maxwell Air Force Base, Ala., and native of Ann Arbor, Mich. "As with any project, it takes commitment of the entire team to make something like this happen."

The donated equipment consisted of 46 electrocardiogram (EKG) machines, five defibrillators and five bedside monitors to aid in the prevention and detection of cardiovascular disease, the leading cause of death in Kyrgyzstan (nearly 50 percent).

When the medical equipment reaches the final destinations, Knowles added he hopes it can help reduce the number of deaths caused by cardiovascular disease by 40 percent.

Kaliev Marat, Kyrgyz Republic Deputy Minister of Health, said he was glad to see the airmen from Transit Center at Manas. They helped put this ceremony together and made the donation of the medical equipment possible.

He said he appreciates the friendship and hope to continue to build on the great helping relationship we have developed."

The equipment is scheduled for distribution to four different hospitals in the Naryan province, the largest region in Kyrgyzstan with one of the smallest populations, about 264,000.

• Date Taken: 12.11.2013
• Date Posted: 12.16.2013 02:50
• Story ID: 118257
• Location: BISHKEK, KG
• Hometown: BISHKEK, KG
• Hometown: ANN ARBOR, MI, US
• Hometown: SAN ANTONIO, TX, US