A new health center for soldiers has been opened today at the Johan Willem Frisokazerne in Assen. The special building is right next to the entrance gate and is the first acquisition for the military base since it became known that the barracks will remain open.
In the building of 6 million euros, soldiers can go for the general practitioner, the dentist, the physiotherapist and the pharmacy. They also receive vaccinations, hearing tests and blood tests. Twelve people work there, who are ready daily for the Kazerne staff.
In the building, the cross of Geneva has been incorporated in various places, known as the symbol of the Red Cross. The cross can be found both in the map and in the steel slats of the building.
The new health center is open under the guidance of music from the Royal Military Chapel ‘Johan Willem Friso’. For the occasion, soldiers held a short parade. Two Defense nurses ceremonially cut the ribbon, with scissors delivered by stretcher.
Colonel Bastiaan Nieuwdorp, commander of the Primary Health Care Company (EGB) of Defense, emphasizes how important it is that every barracks have a care center. “We would like to keep the soldiers optimally employable. Then it is not only about healing diseases or injuries, but also how we prevent soldiers from falling out and thus ensuring that the effectiveness of Defense remains in order.”
According to practice manager Renée Amons of the Health Center, it is therefore very practical that soldiers can receive almost all primary care close to their work. Doctors and nurses know exactly what soldiers need.
Amons: “For example, a doctor at Burgers will sometimes say that you have to look at it for a few weeks. In such a case we will often figure out what is going on, to be able to use someone again as quickly as possible.”
The building in Assen is one of the twenty health centers of Defense in the Netherlands that is being tackled and the second new center after that at the Kazerne in ‘t Harde. The next building on the Kazerneterrein that is being adjusted is the monumental Emmakazerne. This will be an educational building for students of safety studies of the Thorbecke Academy.