Volunteer Red Cross assistants aid Kagnew Station dental personnel in maintaining good oral hygiene. The post's dental clinic is equipped with the most modern elements.
| The U.S. Army Hospital at Kagnew Station
is a well-equipped, modern facility,
comparing favorably with any hospital in the
United States. Five doctors, three dental
officers, and a qualified staff of nurses and
medical personnel -- including a Public
Health Nurse -- provide excellent service.
Because care of chronic cases is limited, and because of a lack of medical consultants in specialities among local physicians, it is essential that all military personnel and dependents scheduled for assignment to Asmara |
have physical examinations as perscribed by
AR 40-500. Patients needing evacuation
generally are treated in Europe.
Because of the physical environment of Asmara, located 7,600 feet above sea level, you will probably notice shortness of breath with any heavy exertion, during your first few weeks here. It is entirely normal and will be overcome. The sun's rays are also not as well filtered by the air, therefore your eyes may bother you. Use a good bype of sunglass is suggested. Prolonged exposure to the sun |
| should be avoided, because sunburn is
easier to obtain in this area.
Although the climate is a healthy one, there are types of diseases here not found in the United States. By maintaining your immunizations and observing certain elementary sanitation precautions, these can be avoided. As soon as possible after arrival, you should report to the Outpatient Clinic with immunization records. The International Record (PHS 731) for dependents will be kept on file in the clinic until your departure from Kagnew Station, and another form will be used in its stead during your stay. The following immunization schedule is mandatory for all military and dependents while at Kagnew Station: * Annually: Smallpox and Cholera (both of which must also be taken within six months of departure). * Annually after initial series: Typhoid, Typhus. * Tetanus boosters are required at least every six years. * Yellow Fever boosters are required every six years. * Oral Poliomyelitis vaccine (type I, II and III) are required for those who have not previously received them. |
Special clinics are conducted by the Hospital.
Among these are an OB clinic, well-baby clinic,
well-woman clinic, orthopedic clinic, and
gynecology clinic.
Military personnel reporting on sick call will not
be seen without a sick slip, and must report in
uniform. Sick call is conducted daily except
Wednesday at 0730. Dependent sick call is at
0900 daily.
Immunizations are scheduled by company for
smallpox, cholera, typhoid and typhus. Other
immunizations, and all those for officers and all
dependents, are given at 1300-1600 every
weekday afternoon.
Off-post water supplies are frequently
contaminated, therefore those living off-post
must obtain their drinking and cooking water
only at authorized distribution points at Tract A
or Tract E. Water safety precautions are
published elsewhere.
A well-equipped and staffed Dental Clinic
provides dental services, including prosthetic
service for both military personnel and their
dependents.
No dental appointments will be made without prior examination, which can be obtained by all personnel from 0730 to 0830 Monday through Friday. For emergencies, after duty hours, the nurse on duty at the hospital must be called. |
 |
The Kagnew Hospital has a modern - and often busy - obstetrics ward. An excellent surgical and nursing staff is assigned. |
| No amount of convincing can ever persuade youngsters that inoculations aren't really as bad as they seem. Hospital technicians give a required "shot" to one Kagnew youngster. |  |
| Although orthodontic treatment is not
available at Kagnew Station, a qualified
orthodontist visits the post periodically from
Europe.
During your stay in Asmara you will probably
wish to take advantage of the oppotunities to
travel in the area. If both parents are going to
be absent at the same time, and are leaving
children with friends (Children should not be
left in the care of indigous help) a "consent of
anesthesia and operations" from (sic) should
be signed. This consent slip is available at the
out patient clinic and one should be signed for
each child. These are to be left in the clinic so
that in the event of an emergency, medical
treatment can be started immediately, Be sure
to make notations on the certificate if there
are any allergies to medications or any medical
history that you might feel significant.
During your stay in Asmara you may have
other specific medical problems or questions
which are not completely covered in the above
discussion. In such a case the Public Health
Nurse will be glad to advise you or refer you
to the proper agency. She is also available to
assist in home nursing problems and is in
charge of the School Health Program. During
duty hours call 3212.
Malaria is prevalent throughout the lowlands of Ethiopia and the other countries of East Africa and the Middle East. In recent |
years we have seen no cases amongst American personnel who have remained on the Ethiopian plateau; however, there have been cases in individual who have journeyed to the valleys or seacoast and have failed to keep up their antimalarial drugs. Because of the frequent trips made by members of this command, and because of the possibility of infected mosquitoes being brought back in cars and trucks, it is mandatory for all military and strongly recommended that all dependents take weekly suppressive doses of anti-malaria tablets. These are given to military personnel in their units weekly. Civilian dependents may pick up their tablets Monday through Friday 0830-1130 hours at the hospital pharmacy. A dosage schedule for your children based upon their ages will be furnished to you at that time. The medication is considered only suppressive and not curative. For this reason, discontinuance of regular dosage may result in the appearance of an acute attack of malaria. You must, therefore, establish a regular weekly routine with your family to ensure their continuous protection. Upon your permanent departure from Kagnew Station when you pick up your medical records you will be furnished with foruteen tablest of Primaquin, a curative drug, which are to be taken one a day for two weeks in order to permanently eliminate any malarial parasites from your system. |
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Last Updated February 4, 1998 by James Boyce
