U.S. Navy Seabees turn over Ali Oune Medical Clinic to Djiboutian officials

U.S. Navy Seabees from Naval Mobile Construction Battalion 1, assigned to Combined Joint Task Force-Horn of Africa, turned over the newly constructed Ali Oune Medical Clinic to Djibouti government officials during a ribbon cutting ceremony at the clinic Jan. 31.



By Tech. Sgt. Shawn Nickel U.S. Air Force CJTF-HOA Feb 06, 2019
View Gallery
fallback
Gallery contains 24 images

ALI OUNE, Djibouti -- U.S. Navy Seabees from Naval Mobile Construction Battalion 1, assigned to Combined Joint Task Force-Horn of Africa, turned over the newly constructed Ali Oune Medical Clinic to Djibouti government officials during a ribbon cutting ceremony at the clinic Jan. 31.

The 2,900-square-foot clinic, which the Seabees spent five months constructing, is intended to enhance the Ministry of Health for Djibouti’s ability to provide basic medical, birth and after care to the Ali Oune village and its more than 1,000 residents and rural neighbors.

“Health is important today and for the future of Djibouti,” said Alexander Hamilton, chargé d’ affaires to the U.S. Ambassador to Djibouti, in a speech at the ribbon cutting. “Thank you to the U.S. military for making this a reality.”

Djibouti has one of the highest maternal death rates among countries in Africa, according to a study by UNICEF. The main causes of death among children under 5 are neonatal ones including infections, prematurity, asphyxia, acute respiratory infections, diarrhea, malaria and malnutrition.

The Seabees, CJTF-HOA and Camp Lemonnier, Djibouti, leadership, and U.S. and Djiboutian government leaders attended the ceremony.

Projects like the women’s medical clinic will not only help reduce the mortality rates of both mothers and infants, but will also build relationships with the community.

“Giving birth isn’t something that is easy, and where they historically give birth here is risky,” said U.S. Navy Seaman Mariame Cherif, a Seabee assigned to NMCB 1 and one of the only female Sailors working on the clinic who also fills the role of interpreter. “It makes me feel happy to do this for them.”

Thirty kilometers from the city of Djibouti, Ali Oune is only accessible by a rough dirt road, which can be washed out by rains and is notorious for flat tires due to large rocks. It’s not uncommon to see rolled or disabled vehicles along the route. This brought logistical challenges for the 34 Seabees who lived on site for the duration of the five months.

“Getting materials out here, along with the heat, is just one of the challenges,” said Lt. Cmdr. Matthew Baird, detail officer in charge, NMCB 1. “These Seabees pushed though and have done what they needed to do with a great attitude and an unprecedented speed. I’m proud of the work they have done out here. Knowing that we are going to be affecting generations to come and giving them a better start from birth is the reward for all the work.”

More in Media Room
CJTF-HOA, Tanzania People's Defense Force practice patient evacuation at exercise Justified Accord 2025
MSATA, Tanzania-- U.S. Army soldiers with the East Africa Response Force (EARF), assigned to Combined Joint Task Force – Horn of Africa (CJTF-HOA), U.S Army Southern European Task Force, Africa (SETAF-AF) and the Tanzania People's Defense Force (TPDF) practiced hot and cold loads during day four of multinational exercise Justified Accord (JA25) at the Msata Military Training Base in Msata, Tanzania, Feb. 14, 2024.
Read more
CJTF-HOA, Tanzania People's Defense Force train on IED familiarization at exercise Justified Accord 2025
U.S. Army soldiers of the the East Africa Response Force (EARF), assigned to Combined Joint Task Force – Horn of Africa (CJTF-HOA), U.S. Army Southern European Task Force, Africa (SETAF-AF) soldiers, and the Tanzania People’s Defense Force (TPDF) trained on improvised explosive device (IED) familiarization and detection on day three for exercise Justified Accord 2025 (JA25) at the Msata Military Training Base, Msata, Tanzania, Feb. 13, 2025. JA25 is the premier U.S. Africa Command (USAFRICOM) exercise in East Africa, designed to enhance multinational combat readiness, strengthen crisis response capabilities and empower allies and partners in the region. Led by U.S. Army Southern European Task Force, Africa (SETAF-AF) and hosted in Kenya, Djibouti and Tanzania, JA25 integrates high-intensity training scenarios that sharpen warfighting skills, increase operational reach and enhance the ability to execute complex joint and multinational operations. The exercise runs from Feb. 10–21, 2025. (U.S. Army photos by Sgt. Michael Knight)
Read more
CJTF-HOA, Tanzania People's Defense Force perform weapons, squad attack drills at exercise Justified Accord 2025
U.S. Army soldiers with the East Africa Response Force (EARF), assigned to Combined Joint Task Force – Horn of Africa (CJTF-HOA), work with U.S. Army Southern European Task Force, Africa (SETAF-AF) soldiers, and Tanzania People’s Defense Force (TPDF) service members, to practice squad attack battle drill tactics and weapons fundamentals at the Msata Military Training Base in Msata, Tanzania, Feb. 12, 2025.
Read more
More in Media Room
CJTF-HOA, Tanzania People's Defense Force practice patient evacuation at exercise Justified Accord 2025
MSATA, Tanzania-- U.S. Army soldiers with the East Africa Response Force (EARF), assigned to Combined Joint Task Force – Horn of Africa (CJTF-HOA), U.S Army Southern European Task Force, Africa (SETAF-AF) and the Tanzania People's Defense Force (TPDF) practiced hot and cold loads during day four of multinational exercise Justified Accord (JA25) at the Msata Military Training Base in Msata, Tanzania, Feb. 14, 2024.
Read more
CJTF-HOA, Tanzania People's Defense Force train on IED familiarization at exercise Justified Accord 2025
U.S. Army soldiers of the the East Africa Response Force (EARF), assigned to Combined Joint Task Force – Horn of Africa (CJTF-HOA), U.S. Army Southern European Task Force, Africa (SETAF-AF) soldiers, and the Tanzania People’s Defense Force (TPDF) trained on improvised explosive device (IED) familiarization and detection on day three for exercise Justified Accord 2025 (JA25) at the Msata Military Training Base, Msata, Tanzania, Feb. 13, 2025. JA25 is the premier U.S. Africa Command (USAFRICOM) exercise in East Africa, designed to enhance multinational combat readiness, strengthen crisis response capabilities and empower allies and partners in the region. Led by U.S. Army Southern European Task Force, Africa (SETAF-AF) and hosted in Kenya, Djibouti and Tanzania, JA25 integrates high-intensity training scenarios that sharpen warfighting skills, increase operational reach and enhance the ability to execute complex joint and multinational operations. The exercise runs from Feb. 10–21, 2025. (U.S. Army photos by Sgt. Michael Knight)
Read more
CJTF-HOA, Tanzania People's Defense Force perform weapons, squad attack drills at exercise Justified Accord 2025
U.S. Army soldiers with the East Africa Response Force (EARF), assigned to Combined Joint Task Force – Horn of Africa (CJTF-HOA), work with U.S. Army Southern European Task Force, Africa (SETAF-AF) soldiers, and Tanzania People’s Defense Force (TPDF) service members, to practice squad attack battle drill tactics and weapons fundamentals at the Msata Military Training Base in Msata, Tanzania, Feb. 12, 2025.
Read more
More in Media Room
CJTF-HOA, Tanzania People's Defense Force practice patient evacuation at exercise Justified Accord 2025
MSATA, Tanzania-- U.S. Army soldiers with the East Africa Response Force (EARF), assigned to Combined Joint Task Force – Horn of Africa (CJTF-HOA), U.S Army Southern European Task Force, Africa (SETAF-AF) and the Tanzania People's Defense Force (TPDF) practiced hot and cold loads during day four of multinational exercise Justified Accord (JA25) at the Msata Military Training Base in Msata, Tanzania, Feb. 14, 2024.
Read more
CJTF-HOA, Tanzania People's Defense Force train on IED familiarization at exercise Justified Accord 2025
U.S. Army soldiers of the the East Africa Response Force (EARF), assigned to Combined Joint Task Force – Horn of Africa (CJTF-HOA), U.S. Army Southern European Task Force, Africa (SETAF-AF) soldiers, and the Tanzania People’s Defense Force (TPDF) trained on improvised explosive device (IED) familiarization and detection on day three for exercise Justified Accord 2025 (JA25) at the Msata Military Training Base, Msata, Tanzania, Feb. 13, 2025. JA25 is the premier U.S. Africa Command (USAFRICOM) exercise in East Africa, designed to enhance multinational combat readiness, strengthen crisis response capabilities and empower allies and partners in the region. Led by U.S. Army Southern European Task Force, Africa (SETAF-AF) and hosted in Kenya, Djibouti and Tanzania, JA25 integrates high-intensity training scenarios that sharpen warfighting skills, increase operational reach and enhance the ability to execute complex joint and multinational operations. The exercise runs from Feb. 10–21, 2025. (U.S. Army photos by Sgt. Michael Knight)
Read more
CJTF-HOA, Tanzania People's Defense Force perform weapons, squad attack drills at exercise Justified Accord 2025
U.S. Army soldiers with the East Africa Response Force (EARF), assigned to Combined Joint Task Force – Horn of Africa (CJTF-HOA), work with U.S. Army Southern European Task Force, Africa (SETAF-AF) soldiers, and Tanzania People’s Defense Force (TPDF) service members, to practice squad attack battle drill tactics and weapons fundamentals at the Msata Military Training Base in Msata, Tanzania, Feb. 12, 2025.
Read more