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WASHINGTON, Feb. 16, 2006 – The United States today transferred the 212th Mobile Army Surgical Hospital, the last unit of its kind in the U.S. Army, to the Pakistan government for continued use in earthquake relief efforts, a Defense Department spokesman said.
U.S. soldiers with the 212th Mobile Army Surgical Hospital and Pakistani army personnel from the 67th Medical Battalion form an honor guard carrying the flags of both countries during a ceremony in Muzaffarabad, Pakistan, Feb. 16, transferring the hospital to Pakistan. The U.S. military is participating in a Pakistani-led relief operation designed to aid victims of the devastating earthquake that struck the region Oct. 8, 2005. Photo by Tech. Sgt. Joseph McLean, USAF
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The 84-bed hospital, which arrived in Muzaffarabad shortly after the earthquake struck the country on Oct. 8, is valued at $4.6 million, according to the U.S. Embassy in Pakistan. The hospital consists of the following: - Primary health care and emergency medical treatment section;
- Surgical suite with two operating tables and sterilization equipment;
- Two intensive care units; I
- Intermediate care ward;
- Minimal care ward;
- Pharmacy;
- Laboratory;
- Radiology units;
- Medical maintenance work area with a supply of repair parts;
- Power-generation system for the entire hospital; and
- Storage containers for packing and moving the hospital.
The hospital has treated more than 20,000 patients and provided about 20,000 vaccinations to about 8,000 patients since October. After the transfer, the American medical personnel will return to their home base in Miesau, Germany, and the Pakistani military will take over the hospital, according to the embassy. In further progress toward the end of U.S. military relief efforts in Pakistan this spring, the U.S. Navy turned over $2.5 million worth of construction equipment to Pakistan military engineers Feb. 13. The equipment includes three D-7 bulldozers, a 15-ton dump truck, nine 20-ton dump trucks, seven 100-kilowatt generators and four generator skids, according to the embassy. The U.S. also is donating its two forward-area refueling point systems to the Pakistan government to increase helicopter efficiency during reconstruction. The U.S. military has been on the ground in Pakistan since Oct. 10, providing relief after a 7.6 magnitude earthquake struck the Kashmir region in northern Pakistan Oct. 8, killing more than 70,000 citizens, injuring more than 60,000 and leaving more than 3 million homeless. At the peak of initial relief efforts, more than 1,200 personnel and 25 helicopters provided vital transport, logistics, and medical and engineering support in the affected areas. Today, 600 U.S. servicemembers continue to provide aviation, medical and engineering assistance to relief and reconstruction efforts. U.S. military relief operations are expected to conclude by the end of March, the DoD spokesman said, but the capabilities the U.S. military brought to the relief operations will continue within the Pakistani military due to the transfer of key medical, engineering and refueling equipment.
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