Civil Affairs, Djiboutian medical personnel provide specialty care

Access to proper health care is often a challenge for pastoralists, villagers, and people living in low-income areas due to the time, cost, and distance to urban medical facilities. Specialty medical care however, is even tougher to attain for those in need. Combined Joint Task Force-Horn of Africa service members recently helped address this need by partnering with Djiboutian medical personnel to deliver specialty health care to more than 400 Djiboutians.



By Senior Airman Nesha Humes Combined Joint Task Force - Horn of Africa Djibouti, Africa Sep 22, 2015
View Gallery
fallback
Gallery contains 6 images

Access to proper health care is often a challenge for pastoralists, villagers, and people living in low-income areas due to the time, cost, and distance to urban medical facilities.  Specialty medical care however, is even tougher to attain for those in need.

Combined Joint Task Force-Horn of Africa service members recently helped address this need by partnering with Djiboutian medical personnel to deliver specialty health care to more than 400 Djiboutians during a Medical Civic Action Program outreach event at Ali Sabieh Medical Clinic in Djibouti.

“We work side-by-side with the Djiboutian providers, doctors, nurses and physician assistants,” said Capt. Serena Staples, 415th Civil Affairs Battalion public health nurse.  “It’s a really good learning experience for everyone; the whole region benefits.”

U.S. Army CA BN personnel, assigned to CJTF-HOA, and their medical functional specialty teams, collaborated with Djibouti’s Ministry of Health to provide an obstetrician-gynecologist, pediatrician, dentist and ophthalmologist for patients.

“There are so many people that will benefit from the specialty care,” Staples said. “We can only do so much in a certain amount of time, but I think we reached out to a good majority of the population who needed it. I think they were really appreciative. The ministry of health was very happy with how everything went.”

CJTF-HOA aims to provide three MCAPs a fiscal year. In the past, the CA BN doctors administered medical services during MCAPs, but here they assisted the trained Djiboutian doctors.

“Not only does the medical caravan keep the hospital healthier,” said Dr. Ahmed Robleh, Hospital Peetier pediatrician, “but the most important part to me is they’re giving me support; I’m happy to work with them.”

More in Media Room
One team: CJTF-HOA leaders visit troops in Kismayo, Somalia
U.S. Army Maj. Gen. Brian Cashman, far right, Combined Joint Task Force - Horn of Africa commanding general, met with various personnel during a Battlefield Circulation visit May 1-2, 2025, at Cooperative Security Location, Kismayo, Somalia. Cashman routinely visits forward-deployed troops to meet with key leaders, check on the morale and welfare of service members and ensure overall mission readiness throughout the CJTF-HOA area of responsibility. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Allison Payne)
Read more
US Army engineers enhance medical capabilities at Baledogle Military Airfield, Somalia
The 152nd Engineer Support Company deployed in support of Combined Joint Task Force - Horn of Africa (CJTF-HOA) is playing a pivotal role in enhancing both military operations and the quality of life for service members stationed at Baledogle Military Airfield (BMA), Somalia, through various construction projects, to include a recent build of a medical aid station.
Read more
Humans of HOA: From pulpit to battlefield
The air was heavy that day - not just from the summer heat, but from the weight of loss that clung to everyone in the room. Families sat close together, shoulders brushing, as if physical proximity could offer some small measure of comfort. Outside the chapel, the faint hum of military vehicles was a distant reminder of the larger conflict at hand. Inside, however, time felt suspended. It was just us, the grieving, and the silence.
Read more
More in Media Room
One team: CJTF-HOA leaders visit troops in Kismayo, Somalia
U.S. Army Maj. Gen. Brian Cashman, far right, Combined Joint Task Force - Horn of Africa commanding general, met with various personnel during a Battlefield Circulation visit May 1-2, 2025, at Cooperative Security Location, Kismayo, Somalia. Cashman routinely visits forward-deployed troops to meet with key leaders, check on the morale and welfare of service members and ensure overall mission readiness throughout the CJTF-HOA area of responsibility. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Allison Payne)
Read more
US Army engineers enhance medical capabilities at Baledogle Military Airfield, Somalia
The 152nd Engineer Support Company deployed in support of Combined Joint Task Force - Horn of Africa (CJTF-HOA) is playing a pivotal role in enhancing both military operations and the quality of life for service members stationed at Baledogle Military Airfield (BMA), Somalia, through various construction projects, to include a recent build of a medical aid station.
Read more
Humans of HOA: From pulpit to battlefield
The air was heavy that day - not just from the summer heat, but from the weight of loss that clung to everyone in the room. Families sat close together, shoulders brushing, as if physical proximity could offer some small measure of comfort. Outside the chapel, the faint hum of military vehicles was a distant reminder of the larger conflict at hand. Inside, however, time felt suspended. It was just us, the grieving, and the silence.
Read more
More in Media Room
One team: CJTF-HOA leaders visit troops in Kismayo, Somalia
U.S. Army Maj. Gen. Brian Cashman, far right, Combined Joint Task Force - Horn of Africa commanding general, met with various personnel during a Battlefield Circulation visit May 1-2, 2025, at Cooperative Security Location, Kismayo, Somalia. Cashman routinely visits forward-deployed troops to meet with key leaders, check on the morale and welfare of service members and ensure overall mission readiness throughout the CJTF-HOA area of responsibility. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Allison Payne)
Read more
US Army engineers enhance medical capabilities at Baledogle Military Airfield, Somalia
The 152nd Engineer Support Company deployed in support of Combined Joint Task Force - Horn of Africa (CJTF-HOA) is playing a pivotal role in enhancing both military operations and the quality of life for service members stationed at Baledogle Military Airfield (BMA), Somalia, through various construction projects, to include a recent build of a medical aid station.
Read more
Humans of HOA: From pulpit to battlefield
The air was heavy that day - not just from the summer heat, but from the weight of loss that clung to everyone in the room. Families sat close together, shoulders brushing, as if physical proximity could offer some small measure of comfort. Outside the chapel, the faint hum of military vehicles was a distant reminder of the larger conflict at hand. Inside, however, time felt suspended. It was just us, the grieving, and the silence.
Read more