CJTF-HOA medical team attend Dikhil hospital dedication

Courtesy Photo | Navy Capt. Julie Miavez, officer- in-charge of Expeditionary Medical Force, Camp Lemonier, Djibouti, speaks with Dr. Stanislas Nebie about the Dikhil Medical Center that U.S. Navy Mobile Construction Battalion, upgraded. A dedication ceremony was held at the hospital to commemorate its opening on Jan. 3.  

01.07.2008

Story by Petty Officer 1st Class D. Michael Ross 

Combined Joint Task Force - Horn of Africa

By Petty Officer 1st Class David-Michael Ross
Combined Joint Task Force – Horn of Africa Public Affairs

DIKHIL DISTRICT, Republic of Djibouti – Expeditionary Medical Force personnel from Combined Joint Task Force – Horn of Africa visited Dikhil Medical Center for a dedication ceremony to commemorate the completion of the hospital's recent renovation, Jan 3.

Dikhil Hospital treats nomadic Djiboutian and Ethiopian patients while supporting four remote clinics in the district. The hospital was upgraded by local contractors through the assistance of the CJTF-HOA's 486th Civil Affairs Battalion and J-34 Engineering.

The medical center was a civil affairs nominated project that was started in the middle of last year with CJTF-HOA engineers overseeing the project right up to its completion.

"Through meeting with local community leaders and discussing the priority of needs in the area, we found that patients with tuberculosis were not separated from other patients," said Army Capt. Valerie Smith, 486th Civil Affairs Battalion team leader for Southern Djibouti and execution phase project organizer. "TB is a highly contagious disease, so there was a need to have those patients separated from the other wards of the hospital. A fence was built around the TB clinic to keep infected patients from interacting with non-infected patients."

In addition to the construction of an interior fence designed to segregate and enclose the TB ward, local contractors comprehensively renovated the entire hospital by repairing, replacing and installing electrical work, plumbing, latrines, doors, windows and also undertook repairing rooftop damages.

"We have a great relationship with the hospital and the people," said Navy Capt. Julie Miavez, EMF officer-in-charge. "They feel they can call on us anytime for advice and we can actually call on them for advice, so it's a win, win situation for both of us."

Miavez said although EMF's primary obligation is to care for personnel assigned to the base, it is vital to CJTF-HOA's mission to participate in community dedication ceremonies, like the one at Dikhil Hospital, because it serves to show there is a significant bond between the local community and Camp Lemonier personnel.

This project is the result of collaboration with the Djibouti government, Ministry of Health, national and local officials, the U.S. Embassy and the United States Agency for International Development.

"This is wonderful. This kind of cooperation between many partners that helps the Minister of Health improve the populations health and get better health centers facilities," said USAID representative Dr. Stanislas Nebie.

Combined Joint Task Force-Horn of Africa works to prevent conflict, promote regional stability and protect coalition interests in east Africa and Yemen through humanitarian assistance, disaster relief, consequence management and civic action programs. This includes medical and veterinary care, school and medical clinic construction and water development projects.

• Date Taken: 01.07.2008
• Date Posted: 01.07.2008 01:49
• Story ID: 15196