Seabees assigned to Naval Mobile Construction Battalion (NMCB) 4 and members of Cameroon’s Battalion d’Intervention Rapide (BIR) completed the second of two community health outposts for villages in Cameroon, March 21, 2013.

The health outposts were built in conjunction with a multifaceted engagement between the U.S. and Cameroon that also includes a medically-focused military-to-military professional exchange and a combined health outreach to provide basic medical and optometry services for Cameroonians living in the littoral region. 

The intent of the engagement is to strengthen the partnership between U.S. and Cameroon and increase capacity of military and civilian medical practitioners, in keeping with the overarching program Africa Partnership Station. APS is an international security cooperation initiative, facilitated by Commander, U.S. Naval Forces Europe-Africa, aimed at strengthening global maritime partnerships through training and collaborative activities to improve maritime safety and security in Africa.

The construction of the health outposts—one in Beskoul and the other in Youhme—supports a BIR pilot program to train community health workers to service remote populations. The constructed outposts allow trained community health professionals to have the workspace needed to conduct preventative health training and provide basic medical support to members of the surrounding community.

“Our support enables the BIR to provide assistance to the local populace and in turn enhances security there,” said Lt. Cmdr. Kevin Bailey, U.S. Naval Forces Europe-Africa/U.S. 6th Fleet medical planner. “Our hope is that the health outposts are a huge benefit to the people of Beskoul and Youhme, in conjunction with the training the BIR has provided. Because of the remoteness of those two areas, the outposts will serve as a key intermediary location for higher-level medical care.”

Cameroon officials acknowledged how important the health outposts were to building civil-military relations and ultimately more stability to the impacted areas. 

"We use the United States as a model [in how the U.S. conducts civil-military relations]," said Cameroonian Col. Biloa Patrice, commander of the Douala Zone BIR. “By helping the people with their needs, we can all begin to work to together, civilians and BIR, to ensure the safety of our homes and enforcement of laws.”

U.S. Navy medical personnel will also partner with Cameroon counterparts for a planned medical civic assistance project in Manoka.

NMCB 4 Seabees who worked on the health outposts appreciated the opportunity to work in tandem with the Cameroonian civil engineers to serve the local community.

"The Seabees and the BIR joined together to create one team dedicated to building this health outpost for the people of Beskoul," said Lt. j.g. Henry Lovett, officer in charge of the NMCB 4 detachment assigned to Cameroon. “The partnership between the BIR and NMCB 4 has been amazing. Col. Biloa and the BIR soldiers have supported us in every aspect of this construction project, creating mutual trust and great respect for everyone involved.”