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

U.S. Navy Seabees from Naval Mobile Construction Battalion 1, assigned to CJTF-HOA, turned over the newly constructed, 2,900-square-foot, Ali Oune Medical Clinic to Djibouti government officials, 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.



By Tech. Sgt. Shawn Nickel Combined Joint Task Force - Horn of Africa Ali Oune, Djibouti Feb 14, 2019
View Gallery
U.S. Navy Seabees turnover Ali Oune Medical Clinic to Djiboutian officials
Gallery contains 22 images

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 Partnerships
Justified Accord 2026 begins in Kenya, Tanzania, Djibouti
Justified Accord 2026 begins in Kenya, Tanzania, Djibouti
Exercise Justified Accord 2026 (JA26), U.S. Africa Command’s largest annual, multinational exercise in East Africa, officially begins today across Djibouti, Kenya and Tanzania. Led by U.S. Army Southern European Task Force, Africa (SETAF-AF), JA26 integrates approximately 1,500 personnel from Djibouti, Kenya, Tanzania, the United States and several other nations to build readiness, deepen partnerships and strengthen regional security.
Read more
Cutlass Express 2026: Innovation to Drive the Fight Against Trafficking And Illegal Fishing
Cutlass Express 2026: Innovation to Drive the Fight Against Trafficking And Illegal Fishing
Cutlass Express 2026 (CE26) arrives at a decisive moment for maritime security in the Western Indian Ocean, where drug trafficking, human smuggling, and illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing continue to threaten coastal economies and regional stability.
Read more
U.S. - Kenya relations continue in countering terrorism as AFRICOM Deputy Commander Visits KDF
U.S. - Kenya relations continue in countering terrorism as AFRICOM Deputy Commander Visits KDF
Covering more than 1,400 km in roughly 30 hours, U.S. Army Lt. Gen. John Brennan, deputy commander, U.S. Africa Command (AFRICOM), continued discussions on how AFRICOM and its partners can strategically counter terrorism in East Africa through various meetings and engagements with senior military leaders from the Kenyan Defence Forces in Nairobi and Manda Bay, Kenya, Feb. 5-6, 2026.
Read more
More in Partnerships
Justified Accord 2026 begins in Kenya, Tanzania, Djibouti
Justified Accord 2026 begins in Kenya, Tanzania, Djibouti
Exercise Justified Accord 2026 (JA26), U.S. Africa Command’s largest annual, multinational exercise in East Africa, officially begins today across Djibouti, Kenya and Tanzania. Led by U.S. Army Southern European Task Force, Africa (SETAF-AF), JA26 integrates approximately 1,500 personnel from Djibouti, Kenya, Tanzania, the United States and several other nations to build readiness, deepen partnerships and strengthen regional security.
Read more
Cutlass Express 2026: Innovation to Drive the Fight Against Trafficking And Illegal Fishing
Cutlass Express 2026: Innovation to Drive the Fight Against Trafficking And Illegal Fishing
Cutlass Express 2026 (CE26) arrives at a decisive moment for maritime security in the Western Indian Ocean, where drug trafficking, human smuggling, and illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing continue to threaten coastal economies and regional stability.
Read more
U.S. - Kenya relations continue in countering terrorism as AFRICOM Deputy Commander Visits KDF
U.S. - Kenya relations continue in countering terrorism as AFRICOM Deputy Commander Visits KDF
Covering more than 1,400 km in roughly 30 hours, U.S. Army Lt. Gen. John Brennan, deputy commander, U.S. Africa Command (AFRICOM), continued discussions on how AFRICOM and its partners can strategically counter terrorism in East Africa through various meetings and engagements with senior military leaders from the Kenyan Defence Forces in Nairobi and Manda Bay, Kenya, Feb. 5-6, 2026.
Read more
More in Partnerships
Justified Accord 2026 begins in Kenya, Tanzania, Djibouti
Justified Accord 2026 begins in Kenya, Tanzania, Djibouti
Exercise Justified Accord 2026 (JA26), U.S. Africa Command’s largest annual, multinational exercise in East Africa, officially begins today across Djibouti, Kenya and Tanzania. Led by U.S. Army Southern European Task Force, Africa (SETAF-AF), JA26 integrates approximately 1,500 personnel from Djibouti, Kenya, Tanzania, the United States and several other nations to build readiness, deepen partnerships and strengthen regional security.
Read more
Cutlass Express 2026: Innovation to Drive the Fight Against Trafficking And Illegal Fishing
Cutlass Express 2026 (CE26) arrives at a decisive moment for maritime security in the Western Indian Ocean, where drug trafficking, human smuggling, and illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing continue to threaten coastal economies and regional stability.
Read more
U.S. - Kenya relations continue in countering terrorism as AFRICOM Deputy Commander Visits KDF
Covering more than 1,400 km in roughly 30 hours, U.S. Army Lt. Gen. John Brennan, deputy commander, U.S. Africa Command (AFRICOM), continued discussions on how AFRICOM and its partners can strategically counter terrorism in East Africa through various meetings and engagements with senior military leaders from the Kenyan Defence Forces in Nairobi and Manda Bay, Kenya, Feb. 5-6, 2026.
Read more