STORY: SOMALIA / KISMAYO AMISOM MEDICAL CLINIC TRT: 3:00 SOURCE: AU/UN IST RESTRICTIONS: This media asset

is free for editorial broadcast, print, online and radio use. It is not to be sold on and is restricted for other purposes. All enquiries to news@auunist.org CREDIT REQUIRED: AU/UN IST LANGUAGE: ENGLISH/SOMALIA/NATS DATELINE: 19 AUGUST 2013, KISMAYO SHOTLIST:
1. Wide shot, women waiting outside an old building 2. Med shot, barded wire fence with people waiting in the background 3. Med shot, old woman being helped to the clinic 4. Close up, old woman drinking water 5. Med shot, women and children waiting for treatment 6. Close up, woman face 7. Med shot, woman with baby waiting to be seen by doctors 8. Wide shot, AMISOM Kenyan soldier talking to patients waiting for treatment 9. Wide shot, AMISOM Kenyan doctors treating a woman 10. Close up, woman finger 11. Med shot, woman pressure being checked 12. Med shot, AMISOM Kenyan doctor writing a prescription 13. Close up, AMISON Kenyan doctor writing on apiece of paper 14. SOUNDBITE (English) Major Michael Wahome, Nursing Officer in Charge AMISOM Kenyan Contingent: This is free medical services that we give to the locals, it is one way of reaching out to them and making them understand that we are not here for al Shabaab only, also we are to take care of and are concerned about their health. 15. Wide shot, AMISOM KDF soldier with patients 16. Med shot, AMISOM KDF doctor writing prescription for a boy 17. Wide shot, doctor seeing a man and his children 18. SOUNDBITE (English) Major Michael Wahome, Nursing Officer in Charge AMISOM Kenyan Contingent: The most common illnesses that we are seeing here is upper respiratory tract infections, both to adults and children. We are also treating cases of Malaria, there are several here and especially more immediately after the rains. We are also seeing casing of urinary tract infections, sexually transmitted infections, also as are seeing cases of injures following gunshot, especially when there is ciaos like what we witnessed the other day in Kismayo town. 19. Wide shot, patients outside the clinic 20. Close up, baby head with some growth on it 21. Med shot, AMISOM doctors talking babys mother 22. Med shot, doctors checking x-ray in the sun 23. Wide shot, patients waiting for treatment

STORY: They come from across the city and near by villages, some have had to travel for days to get here. Men women and children wait under trees shielding themselves from the harsh sun as others line up on the side of a shot-up build seeking medical attention. This is Kismayo, Somalias southern port city were troops of the African Union Mission in Somalia (AMSIOM), are providing basic health care and medication to members of the community. Open seven days a week and seeing an average of 80 patients a day, members of the Kenyan Contingent serving under AMISOM are going beyond their call of duty to provide much needed medical assistance to residents. This is free medical services that we give to the locals, says Major Michael Wahome, the Nursing Officer in Charge at the AMISOM Kenyan Contingent. it is one way of reaching out to them and making them understand that we are not here for al Shabaab only, also we are to take care of and are concerned about their health. Up until October last year, Kismayo was under the control of the Islamic extremist group al Shabaab, who used the lucrative port as a major source of revenue for its operations. Members of the Somali National Army (SNA) and the Ras Kimboni Brigade with support from AMISOMs Kenyan troops, forced the Al Qaeda linked group out of Kismayo and have been securing the city since. After years of civil war and neglect by the militant group al Shabaab during its reign, health facility and other basic services were almost non-existent, leaving the population vulnerable. Kismayo has one hospital but it lacks trained personnel and facilities needed to treat the sick. The most common illnesses that we are seeing here is upper respiratory tract infections, both to adults and children. We are also treating cases of Malaria, there are several here and especially more immediately after the rains. We are also seeing casing of urinary tract infections, sexually transmitted infections, also as are seeing cases of injures following gunshot, especially when there is ciaos like what we witnessed the other day in Kismayo town. Adds Major Michael Wahome. The control of Kismayo and the Jubba region of Somalia has been any issue of contention that led to recent clashes between clan militias in the area. On Wednesday (28th August 2013), Somalias central government signed a deal in Ethiopia with a delegation from the Jubba region and formally recognized Sheikh Ahmed Madobe head of the Ras Kimboni Brigade, as the interim leader. This will hopefully ending months of inter-clan fighting and bring about a better relationship with Somalias Federal government in the capital Mogadishu. With relative security and an administrative structure in place, hopefully residents of the Jubba region of Somalia can soon see development and service return to their area. END.