Afghan national army medical leadership sets sights on the future

KABUL, AFGHANISTAN

10.12.2008

Story by Petty Officer 1st Class Douglas Mappin 

NATO Training Mission Afghanistan

By Petty Officer 1st Class Douglas Mappin
Combined Security Transition Command-Afghanistan

KABUL, Afghanistan – Medical issues are in the forefront for the Afghan national army's leaders. Addressing this, more than 200 members of Combined Security Transition Command-Afghanistan and their ANA counterparts from the six Afghan Regional Security Integration Commands attended a four-day ANA Medical Leadership Conference at the National Military Hospital in Kabul, Oct. 6, 2008.

The goal of the Afghan-led seminar was to discuss, coordinate and plan future endeavors to improve the medical readiness of the ANA.

"We're here to bring together the ANA medical leadership from all over the country," said U.S. Army Col. John Orendorff, medical chief for health care operations at CSTC-A Command Surgeon office. "The hospital commanders, core and brigade surgeons and their American mentors are all here to strategize and make recommendations for the ANA's medical commands."

Setting the tone, ANA Surgeon Gen. Maj. Zia Yaftali's opening remarks addressed the challenges facing the Afghan army's medical personnel. He listed his major concerns as shortages in personnel, distribution of workforce and logistical and medical supply problems.

"We face many challenges. Our biggest is a shortage of medical personnel. We are currently at 35 percent of the mandated doctors needed," Yaftali said. "We are trying to make better decisions. With the help of our mentors we are learning to be better managers, but we look forward to your ideas and suggestions."

According to the mentors, the seminar is a bi-annual event and is a forum to make strategic plans with the goal of an Afghans-led, self-sustaining force.

"Much progress has been made in the past six months," Air Force Col. David Hall, CSTC-A command surgeon told the ANA participants. "The progress you have made is important not only you but to those of us serving with you from the United States."

During each session, brigade commander presented their command's obstacles, accomplishments, recommendations and goals, said Air Force Lt. Col. Christine Taylor, the seminar's coordinator.

In spite of hardships, ARSIC ANA commanders have invented innovative means of accomplishing their mission.

According to Yaftali, his medical staffs have created programs, such as providing better medical training classes for their nursing staff; developed an outpatient electronics register to better track patients; created mass casualty evacuation and emergency response programs; implemented new nutrition programs and used annual staff evaluations to improve patient-doctor relationships.

"While there are many problems for us to address, we promise you that we will work together and not leave you until our job is completed," Hall said. "There are no problems here that we cannot work out together."

• Date Taken: 10.12.2008
• Date Posted: 10.15.2008 01:12
• Story ID: 24986
• Location: KABUL, AF