Women's health no longer an equality issue

Photo By Sgt. 1st Class Sharon McBride | CAMP ARIFJAN, Kuwait (26 August 2006) --- Navy Lt. Cmdr.Currie, a women's nurse health practitioner at the Expeditionary Medical Facility- Kuwait, talks over health issues with Hospital Corpsman LaQunia Williamson recently. As the numbers of females have increased in the ranks, so has the need for adequate access to women's health care during deployments.  

CAMP ARIFJAN, KUWAIT

08.28.2006

Story by Sgt. 1st Class Sharon McBride 

40th Public Affairs Detachment

CAMP ARIFJAN, Kuwait (26 August 2006) --- As we celebrate Women's Equality Day this weekend, we are reminded how far women have come, not only in society but in the U.S. Armed Forces. During the Vietnam War, approximately 7,500 American military women, mostly nurses, served in Southeast Asia.

That number has dramatically increased over the years. In 2003, the number of women in the Armed Forces swelled to 212,000 women serving on active duty, with an additional 149,000 serving in the National Guard and Reserves, according to statistics provided by U.S. Census Bureau. To date, women now make up approximately 15 percent of active military personnel. One in seven military personnel serving in Iraq is female, according to Department of Defense statistics.

As the numbers of females have increased in the ranks, so has the need for adequate access to women's health care during deployments.

"Being deployed and being in this environment causes hygiene problems that can cause big issues for women," said Lt. Cmdr. Carolyn Currie, a women's nurse health practitioner who works at the Expeditionary Medical Facility at Camp Arifjan, Kuwait. Keeping women fit to fight has become a necessity as the operation tempo continues.

The convoys aren't going to stop just because women in the unit might have a health issue to deal with, she said.

But the theater is also changing, she said. This is especially the case in Kuwait, and other areas under Third Army's supervision, she explained. A lot of women are now choosing to extend in theater.

"As a result, women's health is no longer thought of as only a pre-deployment medical issue," Currie said. For example, during pre-deployment medical screenings, providers ensure that a female servicemember's yearly pap exam is current, she said.

This puts a whole new light on women's health issues in theater, she said. Because women are staying in country longer, so the necessity for long-term health care has risen.

"In a longer than average deployed setting a lot of stuff can go wrong," said Hospital Corpsman Ashley Clough, who works with the obstetrician-gynecologist at the EMF-Kuwait. "Women now have more options to get care."

"And that's why since I've deployed to Kuwait last year I've been very busy," Currie said.

She has the distinct honor of being the first women's health nurse practitioner deployed to the global war on terrorism.

When she first arrived here, the fact that she was a women's nurse health practitioner wasn't at the forefront of her duties at the EMF, she said. But as more and more females needed women's health care throughout Kuwait, Afghanistan and Iraq, the more sense it made to have someone with her capabilities on staff with an OBGYN.

In the past, women either had to just deal with it or be seen by a regular nurse practitioner or provider at their local Troop Medical Clinic. But, throughout the theater, like in Iraq and Afghanistan, resources for women's health are often limited or often just not available, Currie said.

"But now they just come here to Kuwait," she said. "We can treat them as needed and send them right back (to Iraq or Afghanistan)."

"That's because we can divide and conquer," said Lt. Cmdr. Dennis Szurkus, the staff OBGYN at EMF-Kuwait. He said, while Currie takes care of routine problems during sick call and regular clinic appointments, that frees him up to take care of more serious women's health issues that in some cases require surgical intervention.

He said their partnership adds to more access to health care for women.

"Before, all we could do was provide acute care," he said. "Now it has evolved to more comprehensive care. We can provide care that is comparable to what's available in the states."

• Date Taken: 08.28.2006
• Date Posted: 08.28.2006 14:00
• Story ID: 7570
• Location: CAMP ARIFJAN, KW