Ghanaian peacekeepers serving with the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) organized a free medical and dental camp for the residents of the village of Marwahin, south-western Lebanon, last week.
The 6 September civil-military cooperation (CIMIC) event sought to strengthen the existing relationship between the residents and Ghana Battalion (GHANBATT).
GHANBATT Senior Medical Officer, Major Kofi Nyarko Oppong, who led the camp, said his team provided free treatment to 40 people. The age of patients varied from a seven-month-old baby to a 90-year-old elderly.
The GHANBATT medical team provided free consultation, dental care and medications for all the ailments that were detected.
The Mukhtar of Marwahin, Salen Ghannam, said his village folks normally travel all the way to Tyre and other neighbouring towns for such treatments. While expressing gratitude for GHANBATT’s continuous medical support to the community, Mr. Ghannam lamented that the lack of proximity of medical facilities in the area has been a persistent challenge.
“The kind gesture would go a long way to cement the existing relationship between the community and UNIFIL,” the Mukhtar said.
Ghana, the 10th largest contributor to UN Peacekeeping, currently deploys more than 850 military personnel to UNIFIL.
