Albanian hospitals get assistance from U.S. marines, Turkey’s TIKA

TIRANA, July 5 – U.S. Marine forces are helping deliver aid to a hospital in the western port city of Durres.
MC1 Edward S. Kessler of USS Taylor PAO writes that sailors aboard the fast frigate USS Taylor delivered Project Handclasp donations to the Lady Diana Pediatric Clinic during a recent port visit in Durres, Albania in mid-June.
Ten Sailors delivered two pallets of medical and hygiene supplies to help more than 300 people regularly seen at the clinic.
Project Handclasp is a U.S. Navy program that receives, collects, consolidates and stores humanitarian, educational, and goodwill material for transportation on naval vessels and distribution by U.S. Navy and Marine Corps personnel on behalf of American citizens to people in need overseas.
Cmdr. Lyle Hall, Taylor’s commanding officer, noted the hard work and dedication of the crew to the project.
Hall discussed how these projects demonstrate the Navy’s commitment to a lasting partnership with the people of Albania via cross cultural and community relations efforts.
Taylor’s crew was also given a tour of the facility to see how the donations would make an impact.
In other aid news, Turkey has set up a new dialysis center for Albanian kids.
The center with a capacity of 12 beds cost about 350,000 euros.
Turkish International Cooperation and Development Agency (TIKA) has established a new hemodialysis center for children at the Mother Teresa Hospital in Albanian capital Tirana.
TIKA Director-General Musa Kulaklikaya and Albanian Health Minister Petrit Vasili inaugurated the center.
Kulaklikaya said, “the project is the symbol of historical friendly relations between Turkish and Albanian peoples. We are determined to improve our cooperation ties with Albania.”
According to a recent survey carried out by the Albanian Ministry of Health, there are about 110 Albanian children with renal diseases requiring dialysis.