- Title: ALGERIA: RUSSIAN-EQUIPPED HOSPITAL IN KABYLIA
- Date: 13th February 1966
- Summary: RUSSIAN MEDICAL TEAM AT HOSPITAL, NEW WARDS. Initials JRG/S/BHH/OS Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved
- Embargoed: 28th February 1966 12:00
- Keywords:
- Location: LAKHDARIA (PALESTRO) KABYLIA ALGERIA
- Country: Algeria
- Reuters ID: LVA6L7BJAOA0PX90XJVE49QPWD9O
- Story Text: A RUSSIAN MEDICAL TEAM IN ALGERIA SINCE DECEMBER LAST YEAR IS FITTING OUT A HOSPITAL WITH THE LATEST EQUIPMENT. THE HOSPITAL WITH 200 BEDS WAS FIRST STARTED BY THE FRENCH BEFORE THEY WITHDREW FROM ALGERIA.IT IS HOPED TO BE FULLY OPEN IN MAY.
THE HOSPITAL IS AT PALESTRO (NOW CALLED LAKHDARIA) A SMALL SUB-PREFECTURE 55 MILES (90 KMS) EAST OF ALGIERS IN KABYLIA. THIS IS A MOUNTAINOUS, ROCKY REGION AND ONE OF THE POOR AND NEGLECTED PARTS OF ALGERIA. THERE IS NO INDUSTRY AS YET AND THE POPULATION GETS ITS MEAGRE LIVING FROM THE BARREN MOUNTAIN SOIL - MAINLY FIGS, OLIVES, SOME CORK TREES.
PALESTRO IS THE JUNCTION OF THREE VALLEYS AND HAS BEEN THE SCENE OF MANY A PITCHED BATTLE. IN 1871, FRENCH TROOPS UNDER GENERAL BORGEAUD DEFEATED THE KABYLES IN A FIERCE STRUGGLE THERE. THE HILL FROM WHICH THE PANORAMIC VIEWS OF THE NEW HOSPITAL ARE TAKEN IS PARTLY AN ARTIFICIAL MOUND MADE FROM THE BONES OF THE ALGERIANS WHO FELL IN THAT BATTLE. IT WAS ALSO THE SCENE OF DESPERATE FIGHTING DURING THE ALGERIAN WAR OF INDEPENDENCE.
THE RUSSIAN MEDICAL TEAM IS WORKING UNDER ITS DIRECTOR, DR. KAZNON. THOUGH THE ALGERIAN MINISTRY OF HEALTH IS FINISHING THE CONSTRUCTION, THE HOSPITAL IS BEING ENTIRELY EQUIPPED BY THE RUSSIANS. THE RUSSIAN AID ALSO INCLUDES A TEAM OF DOCTORS WHO WILL HELP TRAIN ALGERIANS AND GET THE NEW HOSPITAL UNDERWAY. THE AID SCHEME IS PART OF AN AGREEMENT SIGNED BETWEEN ALGERIA AND THE U.S.S.R. IN JANUARY THIS YEAR.
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