PRT and Farah M.D.'s perform Tojg Clinic assessment

TOJG VILLAGE, AFGHANISTAN

02.06.2010

Story by 2nd Lt. Karl Wiest 

Provincial Reconstruction Team Farah

FARAH, Afghanistan — Members of the Farah Provincial Reconstruction Team and staff from the Farah City Hospital travelled to Tojg Village in the Shib Koh District of Farah province, Afghanistan, to assess the village's medical clinic, Feb. 6.

The clinic, which is open seven days a week, treats dozens of patients every day with various injuries and illnesses, ranging from sprained ankles and the common cold, to motor vehicle accidents and tuberculosis.

Eight staff members, including a doctor, a nurse and a midwife, trade shifts around the clock to ensure care is always available if needed.

"The staff works very hard when they are here," said Abdul Woodod, a security guard for the clinic. "The number of patients seen here has been increasing and the doctor and his staff continue to provide first-rate medical care."

The clinic itself was built by coalition forces in 2007 and has been run by local Afghans ever since. Prior to the new treatment center being built, a clinic of sorts was periodically held in the home of a midwife in the village, but that was the only medical care available.

Members from 14 surrounding villages travel to the clinic from up to 10 kilometers away in order to seek care or to receive medicine, which is available from the clinic's pharmacy. Once a month, the implementing non-governmental organization staff in Farah City sends medical supplies to the clinic to replenish the much needed supplies.

"We do the best we can with the supplies and the equipment available to us," said Dr. Khalal Mohammed Saber, the only physician who works at the Tojg Clinic. "A majority of the patients I see are people I know. They are people I see in the village often and I am glad I can help them and make a difference. In time, the situation here will only get better."

• Date Taken: 02.06.2010
• Date Posted: 02.15.2010 09:12
• Story ID: 45377
• Location: TOJG VILLAGE, AF