The Transit Center at Manas made medical supply donations to five hospitals providing long-term and follow up care for June victims of the violence in Southern Kyrgyzstan on behalf of the United States of America with help of the U.S. State Department. The National Hospital, National Trauma Center, National Surgical Center, Pediatric Hospital #3 and Besh-Kungei Military Hospital received a total of $132,000 in medical supplies Aug. 13.

Bishkek hospitals sustained a large number of casualties and their supplies were depleted. The donations made will go to use almost immediately, said Col. Dwight Sones, 376th Air Expeditionary Wing commander. "We've given everything from surgical gloves to gauze, to antibiotics to sterile solutions."

Mirbek Askar Nuralieva, chief doctor of the National Hospital, said "We are thankful to the American government ... who has given great assistance to Kyrgyzstan."

Airmen from the 376th Expeditionary Medical Group loaded and unloaded the supplies. "My favorite part of the day was getting the bus unloaded because it means we're helping others in the community. Anytime we can make people feel better it's a good thing. It's what we do as medics," said Master Sgt. Sean Kasper, part of the six-man team who delivered supplies to five local hospitals.

Capt. Felisa Wilson, 376th EMDG echoed the medical profession's camraderie, "While offloading at National Hospital alongside the Kyrgyz physicians and employees we talked and joked . It was a beautiful thing!"