Press Releases

Combined Joint Task Force – Horn of Africa
Construction of Projects on the Island of Praslin

September 26, 2006

United States Navy Seabees from the Combined Joint Task Force – Horn of Africa (CJTF-HOA) and the Government of the Seychelles collaborated on the renovations of two orphanages on Mahé in late 2005 and early 2006.    In an effort to continue the cooperation with the Government of the Seychelles and the Seychellois people, the U.S. Navy has worked with the Ministry of Health to identify two projects on Praslin.  The projects, which are scheduled to begin in early October 2006, will:

• Construct a new mortuary, Baie St. Anne Hospital 
• Renovate the medical clinic, Anse La Blague

The Baie St. Anne Hospital Mortuary and Anse La Blague Clinic will be built by a team of U.S. Navy Seabees of Naval Mobile Construction Battalion 5 (NMCB 5) .  Seabees known as the U.S. Navy’s “Goodwill Ambassadors” have built and fought for freedom over the last 50 years.  The Seabees have repeatedly demonstrated their skills as builders working around the world building and improving roads, orphanages and public utilities.   

The Seabees will renovate and modernize the Anse La Blague Clinic.  This work should take approximately one month to complete.  The clinic should once again be operational in November 2006.  The existing mortuary will be demolished and a new, larger and more efficient facility built in its place.  This work will start once a temporary mortuary has been established at the hospital and will take 2-3 months to completion.