AFTER nearly three years of distinguished service in East Timor, the United Nations Military Hospital at Comoro has closed.

The UN Military Hospital ceased operation last month with the new UN hospital behind Obrigado Barracks taking over responsibility for the medical care of UN civilian and military personnel.

Since September 1999 contingents from Australia, Egypt and Singapore have provided medical assistance to tens of thousands of East Timorese people and UN personnel.

In the past six months alone more than 60 surgical procedures and 8000 pathology tests have been carried out and there have been almost 3000 outpatients – in addition, physiotherapy, dental and X-ray support has been provided to more than 1500 personnel.

Australian Contingent 6, made up mainly of personnel from 1HSB in Sydney, have been in East Timor since February and took on sole responsibility of the hospital following the repatriation of the Singaporean and Egyptian personnel.

The 68 Australians are now packing up the UN Military Hospital in preparation to leave the mission within the next couple of weeks.