New Health Clinic Opens in Sankal with US Assistance

U.S. military, U.S. Embassy-Djibouti and key Djiboutian personnel in Eastern Africa traveled to Sankal, Djibouti, and participated in opening ceremonies for a new health clinic Feb. 13, 2014.



By Staff Sgt. Christopher Gross SANKAL, Djibouti Mar 04, 2014

U.S. military, U.S. Embassy-Djibouti and key Djiboutian personnel in Eastern Africa traveled to Sankal, Djibouti, and participated in opening ceremonies for a new health clinic Feb. 13, 2014.

Rear Adm. Alexander Krongard, Combined Joint Task Force-Horn of Africa (CJTF-HOA) deputy commander, received a warm welcome from the Sankal residents and said he was very pleased with the end result of the clinic.

“Today is the culmination of over two years of hard work and collaboration between the Ministry of Health, USAID, and the U.S. military engineers from the Combined Joint Task-Horn of Africa; the local contractor “Enterprise Alla-Amin,” and the inhabitants of Sankal who were here while this project was in progress, from its start to its completion,” Krongard said during his opening remarks.

The $322,000 facility includes a, maternity center, living quarters for duty nurses, an incinerator and three cisterns. Solar panels were also installed for electricity, and a water distribution system was connected to the village's existing water supply system.

Krongard said this facility is a stepping stone in support of the universal human desire for good health. “When a country’s citizens are healthy, they can turn their attention toward daily activities that can help their families and their village to prosper,” he said.

One of CJTF-HOA’s objectives is to improve conditions for Djiboutian citizens and Krongard expressed his appreciation to the residents of Sankal for, “their continued support of U.S. Forces in Djibouti. We could not be in this county without the acceptance and support of the Government of the Republic of Djibouti and all the Djiboutian citizens.”

This clinic isn’t the first the U.S. has supported. Julie Stufft, U.S. Embassy-Djibouti Deputy Chief of Mission, pointed out the U.S. has supported more than 90 percent of all World Health Clinics in Djibouti and it won’t stop there.

“We will continue to support the Ministry of Health to provide better healthcare to the citizens of Djibouti,” Stufft said.

More in Media Room
AFRICOM Commander Signs Memorandum of Understanding with Algerian Ministry of National Defense
Read more
What is a Combatant Command?
A Combatant Command is a military organization that coordinates and directs operations in a specific area of responsibility. The Department of Defense splits their efforts around the world by region, and each Combatant Command is responsible for military operations in its assigned area.
Read more
US Defense Officials Conclude Visit to Benin and Côte d'Ivoire
U.S. defense officials have concluded a successful visit to Benin and Côte d'Ivoire, focused on reinforcing defense and security cooperation with our key partners in Coastal West Africa. The delegation, led by Acting Under Secretary of Defense for Policy Amanda Dory, Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for African Affairs Maureen Farrell, and U.S. Air Force Maj. Gen. Kenneth Ekman, engaged in high-level discussions with senior defense leaders in both nations to enhance regional stability and address critical security challenges.
Read more
More in Media Room
AFRICOM Commander Signs Memorandum of Understanding with Algerian Ministry of National Defense
Read more
What is a Combatant Command?
A Combatant Command is a military organization that coordinates and directs operations in a specific area of responsibility. The Department of Defense splits their efforts around the world by region, and each Combatant Command is responsible for military operations in its assigned area.
Read more
US Defense Officials Conclude Visit to Benin and Côte d'Ivoire
U.S. defense officials have concluded a successful visit to Benin and Côte d'Ivoire, focused on reinforcing defense and security cooperation with our key partners in Coastal West Africa. The delegation, led by Acting Under Secretary of Defense for Policy Amanda Dory, Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for African Affairs Maureen Farrell, and U.S. Air Force Maj. Gen. Kenneth Ekman, engaged in high-level discussions with senior defense leaders in both nations to enhance regional stability and address critical security challenges.
Read more
More in Media Room
AFRICOM Commander Signs Memorandum of Understanding with Algerian Ministry of National Defense
Read more
What is a Combatant Command?
A Combatant Command is a military organization that coordinates and directs operations in a specific area of responsibility. The Department of Defense splits their efforts around the world by region, and each Combatant Command is responsible for military operations in its assigned area.
Read more
US Defense Officials Conclude Visit to Benin and Côte d'Ivoire
U.S. defense officials have concluded a successful visit to Benin and Côte d'Ivoire, focused on reinforcing defense and security cooperation with our key partners in Coastal West Africa. The delegation, led by Acting Under Secretary of Defense for Policy Amanda Dory, Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for African Affairs Maureen Farrell, and U.S. Air Force Maj. Gen. Kenneth Ekman, engaged in high-level discussions with senior defense leaders in both nations to enhance regional stability and address critical security challenges.
Read more