Photo Essays
Last Regional Hospital Opens in Afghanistan
A soldier from the Afghan National Army stands security watch while preparations are made to formally open a new ANA hospital, Dec. 15, 2007. The $5 million facility in Kandahar is the last of four regional hospitals to be built for the ANA by the coalition. It will serve as a trauma center, and in late 2008 it will expand from 50 to 100 beds.A local elder talks with representatives from the Afghan National Army and National police while waiting for the opening ceremony for a new ANA hospital, Dec. 15, 2007. The $5 million facility in Kandahar provides a wide array of health care, including a pharmacy, dental clinic, eye care, X-ray and ultrasound services for the soldiers of the ANA’s 205th Corps. It will also serve as a trauma center and will expand in late 2008 from 50 to 100 beds. While others prepare to celebrate the grand opening of the new Afghan National Army regional hospital in Kandahar, an Afghan workman prepares foundations for a 50 bed expansion, Dec. 15, 2007. The $5 million facility is the last of four regional hospitals to be built for the ANA by the coalition. The expansion will double the hospital’s capacity and should be complete in late 2008.Afghan Defense Minister Abdul Rahim Wardak (right) cuts a ribbon that formally opens a new Afghan National Army hospital, Dec. 15, 2007. The $5 million facility is the last of four regional hospitals to be built for the ANA by the coalition. It will serve as a trauma center and in late 2008 it will expand from 50 to 100 beds.The treatment area adjacent to an operating room at the new Afghan National Army regional hospital, Dec. 15, 2007. The $5 million medical facility in Kandahar also serves a trauma center, with a helicopter landing pad only half a kilometer away.The post-operative recovery room adjacent to the operating room at the new Afghan National Army regional hospital, Dec. 15, 2007. The medical facility in Kandahar serves a trauma center, to reduce the rate of soldiers who die from wounds, but also provides outpatient services such as dental and x-ray.Capt. Hamayoon, an Afghan National Army X-ray technician, demonstrates his knowledge of a new x-ray machine to Tech. Sgt. Devin Wilson, Dec. 15, 2007. The machine is part of a new ANA hospital in Kandahar that provides a wide array of health care, including a pharmacy, dental clinic, eye care, and ultrasound services for the soldiers of the ANA’s 205th Corps. Wilson is a hospital embedded team trainer with Afghan Regional Security Integration Command – South, and works at the new hospital as a mentor in radiology. For the Afghan technicians to transition from using film to digital x-rays, “Is a whole new world for them,” said Wilson.Afghan National Army Brig. Gen. Gulaqa Nahibi (left) the Commanding officer of the ANA 205th Corps, watches guests from the Afghan Ministry of Defense cut a ribbon to formally open a new regional hospital, Dec. 15, 2007. The $5 million facility is the last of four regional hospitals to be built for the ANA by the coalition and will serve as a trauma center. In late 2008 it will expand from 50 to 100 beds.The water purification facility at the new Afghan National Army regional hospital in Kandahar, Dec. 15, 2007. The plant provides water for the hospital that is cleaner than some bottled water to improve health care for wounded and ill soldiers from the ANA’s 205th Corps.Two soldiers from the Afghan National Army do last minute cleaning to prepare for the opening of a new ANA hospital, Dec. 15, 2007. The $5 million facility in Kandahar is the last of four regional hospitals to be built for the ANA by the coalition. It will serve as a trauma center and in late 2008 it will expand from 50 to 100 beds.While others prepare to celebrate the grand opening of the new Afghan National Army regional hospital in Kandahar, an Afghan workman prepares foundations for a 50 bed expansion, Dec. 15, 2007. The $5 million facility is the last of four regional hospitals to be built for the ANA by the coalition. The expansion will double the hospital’s capacity and should be complete in late 2008.
A soldier from the Afghan National Army stands security watch while preparations are made to formally open a new ANA hospital, Dec. 15, 2007. The $5 million facility in Kandahar is the last of four regional hospitals to be built for the ANA by the coalition. It will serve as a trauma center, and in late 2008 it will expand from 50 to 100 beds.
U.S. Navy Photo by Petty Officer 1st Class David M. Votroubek