U.S. AFRICOM Provides Field Hospitals to African Nations

In October 2020, Kenya’s border police unit received a 40-bed mobile field hospital valued at USD 1.6 million from AFRICOM. Initially installed in Kanyonyoo, this field hospital is a testament to the strong partnership between the U.S. and Kenya, reflecting the U.S.’s contribution of nearly USD 7.5 billion in resources since the start of the pandemic. Additionally, Alaska Defense provided a 30-bed negative pressure isolation system (NPIS) facility, a five-bed ICU/supply facility, and two U.N. Level 1 urgent care facilities. The installation of the 30-bed NPIS and five-bed ICU/supply facility was completed in August 2021, supervised by two Alaska Defense supervisors. The U.N. Level 1 urgent care facilities were installed in February 2022, also under the supervision of two Alaska Defense personnel. AFRICOM purchased these medical facilities for approximately USD 2.1 million.

South Africa completed their field hospital installation in November of 2020 in Mahikeng, the capital of the country’s northwest province, following a surge of COVID-19. The U.S. Embassy in Pretoria assisted South African officials with the hospital’s transfer during a ribbon-cutting ceremony. 

In March of 2021, Angola’s 40-bed field hospital installation was marked complete and officially handed over to the nation by Nina Maria Fite, Angola’s U.S. ambassador. The inauguration took place in the Soyo municipality of the northern Zaire province. 

Burkina Faso’s field hospital installation was completed in April of 2021. U.S. Ambassador Sandra Clark handed over the 40-bed field hospital.

Djibouti completed its initial field hospital installation in May 2021. A second field hospital was donated in July of 2022. Army General and AFRICOM’s commander Stephen Townsend attended the first mobile field hospital inauguration. Djibouti’s U.S. Ambassador Jonathan Pratt was present at both ceremonies and stated, “We are proud to work side by side, every day, with our Djiboutian partners and colleagues to ensure that our contributions to health care, job creation, education, and security are working for the benefit of all Djiboutians.” Dr. Ahmed Robleh Adbilleh, Djibouti’s Minister of Health, and Major General Shawley of the Combined Joint Task Force – Horn of Africa were also in attendance. The mobile field hospitals are part of a multimillion-dollar donation from the U.S. Government for COVID-19 and ongoing medical-related facilities and assistance.

In April 2021, Tunisia received two 30-bed field hospitals from the United States. The U.S. Ambassador to Tunisia, Donald Blome, and the Tunisian Minister of Health, Faouzi Mehdi, attended the handover ceremony. Since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, the U.S. has donated USD 36 million to support Tunisia’s immediate coronavirus response and address long-term social and economic challenges.

Additionally, on April 19, 2024, the U.S. installed a 22-bed U.N. Level 2 mobile field hospital and an 11-bed U.N. Level 2 mobile field hospital in Tunisia. These installations include a HEPA pressure filtration unit for the operating room, ensuring a sterile environment for surgeries and critical medical procedures. The field hospitals are designed for various applications, including COVID-19 treatment, managing infectious diseases, and providing ongoing medical care.

The field hospitals were set up at a military base near Hammamet, Tunisia. Alaska Defense^® personnel oversaw the installation process, with substantial assistance from local Tunisian Armed Forces soldiers. AFRICOM funded this project at a total cost of approximately USD 5.9 million.

Alaska Defense^® supplied Ghana with a 30-bed field hospital equipped with negative pressure isolation facilities, which was completed in August 2021 in the capital city of Accra. In February 2022, Alaska Defense^® also provided a five-bed ICU/supply facility and a U.N. Level 1 urgent care facility, both supervised by Alaska Defense^® personnel. The total cost of these installations was approximately USD 1.8 million and paid by AFRICOM.

The installation of a field hospital in Ethiopia’s capital, Addis Ababa, was completed in April 2021. U.S. AFRICOM also sent laboratory supplies along with the field hospital to combat COVID-19 and ongoing medical care.

In April 2021, Alaska Defense^® completed the installation of a 30-bed negative pressure isolation system (NPIS) facility in Dakar, in coordination with the U.S. Embassy. This medical facility, intended to treat and vaccinate against COVID-19, will be used to respond to other infectious diseases and provide ongoing medical care. The project, funded by AFRICOM, had a total cost of approximately USD 974,000.

The Uganda People’s Defense Forces (UPDF) recently received a 22-bed, level II mobile field hospital valued at USD 5.5 million, donated by AFRICOM under the African Peacekeeping Rapid Response Partnership (APRRP) program. This advanced medical facility was delivered to the Uganda Rapid Deployment Capability (URDC) headquarters in Jinja, where it was installed under the supervision of German Marquez, with additional support from Alaska Defense^® personnel working in coordination with the Uganda military.

Soldiers from the Uganda People’s Defense Force underwent an intensive training program to acquire essential skills in setting up, operating, and dismantling the hospital, ensuring preparedness for rapid deployment when needed. The U.S. Embassy’s Office of Security Cooperation Chief approved the final installation, and a formal walkthrough was held on October 29, 2024. Attending the walkthrough were Brigadier General Peter Gaetano Omola, Commander of the URDC, and Brigadier General Dr. Kiyengo from the Joint Staff Health Services, who highlighted the field hospital’s specialized capabilities in dental care, radiology, surgery, intensive care, x-ray, and eye care.

Equipped with a negative pressure isolation facility, the level II mobile hospital significantly enhances UPDF’s capacity to respond to natural crises and support peacekeeping operations. It provides specialized care for infectious disease cases in Uganda and across the African continent.

Photos courtesy of UPDF.

Algeria and the U.S. are among each other’s top trading partners. To maintain this strong partnership and combat COVID-19, U.S. AFRICOM donated a 35-bed field hospital, including a five-bed intensive care unit with a negative pressure isolation system. American and Algerian officials inaugurated the field hospital near Blida in August 2021.

In June 2022, an additional 30-bed isolation facility and a five-bed ICU/supply facility were installed. After administering COVID-19 vaccines, the mobile field hospitals will be repurposed to provide ongoing medical care for Algeria’s civilian population.

In March 2024, two U.N. Level 1 urgent care facilities were installed in Algiers. These facilities, intended for COVID-19 treatment, will also assist with managing other infectious diseases and improving the country’s medical response capability. They were installed under the supervision of Alaska Defense^® personnel. This project, funded by AFRICOM, cost approximately USD 1.4 million.

Furthermore, in April 2024, two additional U.N. Level 1 urgent care facilities were installed in Algiers with the support of Alaska Defense^® personnel. The total cost for AFRICOM to purchase these medical facilities was approximately USD 2.1 million.

Morocco’s Ministry of Health received two additional field hospitals in March 2022. Held in the city of Salé, the “donation ceremony is yet another milestone in the strong partnership between our two countries,” said U.S. Embassy Chargé d’Affaires David Green. The United States, through AFRICOM, has pledged a USD 20-plus million investment to enhance Morocco’s COVID-19 pandemic and medical response capabilities. That investment also included an earlier donated 30-bed mobile field hospital for COVID-19 and other infectious disease outbreaks.

Ambassador Leonard commissioned a 40-bed field hospital from U.S. AFRICOM to help combat COVID-19 in Nigeria. The field hospital, which included negative pressure facilities was donated to the Nigerian Federal Ministry of Health, was built in the United States, transported, and assembled in Abuja by a Nigerian team.

In March 2021, a 40-bed field hospital was delivered to Camp Garba Hassane in Niamey and was later deployed about 90 kilometers north in Ouallam. The USD 1.6 million donation, funded by AFRICOM, included training by U.S. personnel to teach Nigerien teams to install, dismantle, move, and maintain the field hospital, including negative pressure isolation rooms. U.S. Ambassador to Niger Eric Whitaker was present during the handover ceremony and said that the U.S. is committed to continuing its 61-year relationship with Niger and ensuring the health and safety of its citizens. 

Alaska Defense^® supplied a 30-bed isolation facility installed in Agadez and a 30-bed isolation facility along with a five-bed ICU/supply facility installed in Niamey. The installations, supervised by Alaska Defense^® personnel, were completed in March 2022. The local mayor and hospital administration attended the handover ceremony in Agadez, while the ceremony in Niamey included representatives from the Niger Army and an attendee from the Office of Security Cooperation, US Embassy. The total cost of these facilities was approximately USD 2.6 million and funded by AFRICOM.

In February 2024, Alaska Defense^® successfully completed the installation of several critical healthcare facilities in Namibia. The medical facilities included a 30-bed negative pressure isolation system (NPIS) facility, a U.N. Level 1 urgent care facility, and a five-bed ICU/supply facility. The 30-bed NPIS facility and the five-bed ICU/supply facility were equipped with negative pressure isolation to ensure the safe treatment of COVID-19 and other infectious diseases for ongoing medical care.

The installations were strategically placed across Namibia: the 30-bed NPIS and U.N. Level 1 urgent care facility were installed in Outapi, while the five-bed ICU/supply facility was set up in Walvis Bay. Future installations are planned for later this summer, including another five-bed ICU/supply facility in Otjiwarongo, an additional 30-bed NPIS, and a U.N. Level 1 urgent care facility in Katima. These installations were supervised by Alaska Defense^® personnel and were part of a project funded by AFRICOM at a total cost of approximately USD 4.1 million.