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By U.S. Marine Cpl. Daniel A. Blatter
KABUL- As the city of Now Zad grows, so does the need for medical aid, so the Marine medics of Alpha Company, 2nd Marine Regiment, on Combat Outpost Cafferetta, treat overflow patients both day and night.
Alpha Company and its medical team are working to further develop Now Zad's resources for medical support. Due to an increased level of security throughout the district, the population of Now Zad continues to grow, so the need to increase its medical capabilities has increased as well.
"There is only one medical doctor in Now Zad and he has two nurses," said Navy Chief Hospital Corpsman Eric Motz, the senior department medical representative for A Co. "He is seeing more than 100 patients per day and when he gets swamped he spreads his workload our way."
Although A Co. has helped open another clinic for the residents, they are still under staffed with limited capabilities.
"The ultimate goal is to work this country up to sustain itself," said 2nd Lt. Gene Price, the executive officer for A Co. "We are helping them security wise, health wise and everything in between."
Monday morning started earlier than most as the medical staff at Cafferetta were awake at 5 a.m.
"We started off with a multiple-stab wound patient," said Motz.
"Then we saw two Afghan National Army patients with viral gastric symptoms, one elder with coetaneous leishmaniasis [Parasitic infection], and a three-year-old kid with a broken arm."
As Now Zad's population reaches a four-year high, the need for additional civil services is expected to grow as well with the population.
"On a daily basis we have four families moving into Now Zad," said Price. "Eventually there will be another doctor who moves into the area as well. This is not a quick process, but the end goal is to have enough [medical] personnel to care for the injuries and trauma that Now Zad locals receive."
Within the past week, more and more local Afghans are making their way to Cafferetta to be treated.
"We are currently seeing more patients with little injuries such as broken arms and stomach aches, [symptoms and injuries] that their doctor will be able to handle," said Price. "The severity of the injuries will go down, but the frequency of injuries will go up as there are more people."
Alpha Company continues to work with the locals doing their part to help Now Zad inhabitants help themselves.
"I am trying to help them as much as possible," said Motz. "I will continue to help them as long as I am here."
| Date Taken: | 06.27.2010 |
| Date Posted: | 06.27.2010 04:20 |
| Story ID: | 52034 |
| Location: | KABUL, AF |
| Web Views: | 240 |
| Downloads: | 205 |
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