In late December, golden shovels ceremoniously unearthed soil beneath the future Medical-Dental Facility on Camp Lemonnier, Djibouti (CLDJ), Africa, the only US military medical center on the continent.

The building replaces the existing smaller Expeditionary Medical Facility designed to provide in- and out-patient services and forward resuscitative care for a population of 1,200. Current staffing puts the installation’s steady-state population closer to 5,000, hence the need for additional room for adequate patient care.

“Camp Lemonnier’s ability to provide forward-deployed forces with world-class medical facilities is paramount to our ability to support the Department of Defense mission in this part of the world,” said Capt. Charles DeGilio, commanding officer, CLDJ. “This facility shows the Navy’s commitment to ensuring our forces have the highest level of medical care possible.”

In addition to providing in- and out-patient services, the modern, 30,000 square-foot, single-story facility serves as the first-line option for immediate life-saving measures and disease/non-battle injury (DNBI) prevention and care, including advanced trauma management and emergency medical treatment.

Project completion is set for October 2020, and includes demolition of the installation’s existing facility.

A joint venture for general contractor’s P&C Development SA and Ergotem SA; Leo A. Daly of Omaha, Nebraska, created the design.

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