ANP Regional Medical Director visits Camp Mike Spann Clinic

CAMP MIKE SPANN, AFGHANISTAN

10.19.2010

Story by Sgt. 1st Class John Queen 

1st Brigade Combat Team, 10th Mountain Division

CAMP MIKE SPANN, Afghanistan – Since their arrival to northern Afghanistan last March, the doctors and medical specialists assigned to Charlie Company, 10th Brigade Support Battalion, from the 10th Mountain Division’s 1st Brigade Combat Team have taken on the role as mentors to the medical staff of the local Afghan National Police.

As part of this mentorship, medical providers from the company make periodic visits to the ANP clinic in Mazar-e-Sharif, the Balkh provincial capital.

On October 7, however, Dr. Saajadi, the ANP Regional Medical director, and ANP Lt. Col. Faizullah, ANP Regional Medical Quartermaster took the opportunity to visit the Troop Medical Clinic on Camp Mike Spann to see how it operates and to observe the Army medics in action.

“This first visit was geared towards showing them our clinic, our capabilities, and how we train our medical personnel,” said Capt. Robert Davis, commander of the medical company. “We set up the training into three different stations so that Dr. Saajadi could see how we train different scenarios.”

Using a variety of training aids and props, the 1BCT medics demonstrated combat life saving techniques for immediate care at the point of an injury, casualty assessment in a clinical setting, and ambulance operations.

“Dr. Saajadi is interested in setting up a CLS "train the trainer" program at the Regional Training Center,” Davis said. “We were hoping this training would spark his interest in training scenarios for the class.”

While Saajadi and Faizullah watched, the Army medics went into action demonstrating their skills in medical treatment. The training was setup in a “round-robin” type of format allowing the groups of medics 20 minutes per station before rotating to the next. Each scenario was setup with a specific medical care situation and allowed the participating medics the maximum amount of actual hands-on training available.

The medics demonstrated treatment techniques on various types of trauma wounds, to include both combat and noncombat injuries. In addition they showed Saajadi how patients are loaded and cared for inside an ambulance version of the Mine Resistant Ambush Protected Armored Vehicle.

“That was very impressive training,” said Saajadi, through a translator. “The next I come I will bring other doctors that are working with the clinic so they see how this clinic operates.”

Saajadi expressed his interest in the training program the Army uses and the equipment the doctors and medics have available to them, some of which he has never seen.

“Hopefully with the equipment that I received from Kabul, I hope someday I will be set up like this,” Saajadi said. “Our medical office received some medical instruments from Kabul and we are not familiar with some of them. So we would be glad if you could come to our clinic and show us how to use them.”

The visits between the Afghan and American care providers are not only solidifying a professional relationship but a personal one as well.

“I would enjoy you coming to my clinic and we will grow our experience together,” Saajadi said.

• Date Taken: 10.19.2010
• Date Posted: 10.19.2010 14:42
• Story ID: 58438
• Location: CAMP MIKE SPANN, AF