Afghan, Coalition doctors hold infectious disease conference

BAGRAM AIR FIELD, AFGHANISTAN

09.17.2007

Story by Sgt. James Wilt 

82nd Airborne Division

by Army Sgt. Jim Wilt
Headquarters, 82nd Airborne Division Public Affairs Office

BAGRAM AIRFIELD, Afghanistan – Combined Joint Task Force-82 held a medical conference at the Jirga Center here Sept. 12 for infectious disease management training.

Sixteen Afghan medical professionals, as well as Egyptian and Korean doctors, were invited to participate in the conference.

While the conference was titled as infectious disease management training, both the Afghan and coalition professionals had underlying reasons for attending the conference.

"The object of the seminar is to be acquainted with our colleagues at [Bagram Airfield,]" said Dr. Jawad Mofleh, a representative of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan's Ministry of Public Health.

The conference was held to connect more than just coalition and Afghan medical professionals, said Army Lt. Col. Mendalose Harris, the CJTF-82 Surgeon Cell's Army Public Health Nurse and coordinator of the event.

She said it was held "to connect the provincial health officials, [non-governmental organizations, provisional reconstruction teams, World Health Organization representatives,] and our medical providers with the MoPH leadership."

"I heard that some of the provincial health officials have not met their leaders in the national health [organization,]" she added.

According to Harris, the long-term goals of the conference are the synchronization of efforts in relation to medical engagements in support of the MoPH's health strategy and increased communication, as well as the cooperation and teamwork between coalition and provisional health officials.

By meeting some of the MoPH leadership, WHO key leaders, provincial health officials and non-government orgainization members, it will allow for networking and future ventures in the public health arena, she said.

Various topics were discussed during the meeting covering a wide range of infectious diseases and their management in Afghanistan.

Another reason Harris said she wanted to hold the conference was to ask MoPH officials to train coalition medical providers, who are seeing and treating Afghans, how to manage and treat infectious diseases the Afghan way.

This would help "synchronize our efforts with the MoPH's guidance to ensure that we are supporting the MoPH health strategy," Harris said.

The conference was the first CJTF-82 held with Afghan medical professionals here. But, said Harris, it won't be the last.

• Date Taken: 09.17.2007
• Date Posted: 09.17.2007 09:18
• Story ID: 12373
• Location: BAGRAM AIR FIELD, AF