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Story by Capt. Vanessa R. Bowman
22nd Mobile Public Affairs Detachment
KANDAHAR AIR FIELD, Afghanistan – Recently, in a multinational effort, service members from HHC, 1-508th Parachute Infantry Regiment, 4th Brigade Combat Team, 82nd Airborne Division; Combined Joint Task Force – 82 assets, the U.K. and the Afghan National Army conducted a two-day village medical outreach, which resulted in 365 Afghans receiving preventative medicine supplies, medications and medical treatment in Helmand Province.
According to World Health Organization statistics for Afghanistan only 14 percent of births are attended by a skilled health care professional, the under-5 child mortality rate is 257 out of 1000 and life expectancy is just 42 years.
Without access to sufficient medical care even minor injuries and diseases can become life threatening. One of the reasons village medical outreach programs are important is because the care they bring can mean the difference between life and death.
In order to generate local interest and awareness the notice for the VMO was announced at a shura held the day prior to the planned event. Beginning early in the morning of the VMO, local residents flocked to receive much needed medical care.
"We do patient teaching," said Army Maj. Stacy Weina, one of the medical providers from Dewitt Army Hospital, at Fort Belvoir, Va. "We don't just hand out medicine, we teach preventative medicine, as well."
On the first day's mission, which lasted from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m., there were 103 pediatric and 47 adult patients. On the second day there were 161 pediatric patients and 71 adults, of the adults treated 18 of them were women. Sick call for the Afghan National Army was held both days after the local patients were seen.
The patients seen suffered from dehydration, fatigue, headache, heartburn, ear infection, abdominal pain, dental cavities, eczema and body aches, to name a few.
"Over two days, we treated over 350 local nationals that do not receive regular medical care," said Army 1st Lt. Jesse Smith, Medical Platoon Leader, 1-508th PIR. "We were able to see the genuine gratitude of the Afghan people and make a small improvement in their lives."
Medical outreach programs provide an avenue for positive personal interaction with local Afghans while also serving as a method to monitor the pulse of local opinion toward multi-national forces. The positive elements brought by VMOs offer a way to change contrary attitudes and sentiments and a venue for maintaining and strengthening good relationships.
Additionally, they are a much needed opportunity to assess the healthcare system in remote areas, and the potential for lasting public health benefits by teaching health and hygiene information.
"I feel a great amount of job satisfaction bringing a few days of health care to the locals of this region," said Army Sgt. 1st Class Phillips, CJTF-82 medical staff member. "They've been cut off and controlled by the Taliban's rules and have not been able to receive the most basic care. There is an attitude of helplessness expressed by some.
"Sadly, we can only provide days of care at a time," she continued. "I hope the things they saw and felt from our providers this week have a lasting impact and leave them with a desire to improve their lifestyles and health."
The VMO was held in a former six-room school building, which 1-508th Soldiers and medical personnel cleaned and prepared to host the event. There were six male and seven female medical personnel at the event. Seven male and one female interpreters were also on hand to help medical personnel communicate with the patients.
"When they put out the word there will be female providers on the first day there might not be so many female patients, but when they see us the women eagerly come out," said Weina. "It is why I volunteered to come to Afghanistan – to take care of the women and children," said Weina.
One of the challenges of the event was controlling the flow of patients to make sure they were treated in an orderly and timely manner. To do this one of the medical providers was stationed outside the clinic to assure adequate flow. To handle the patient volume the medical providers had to also serve in administrative roles to process the patients.
ANA, Afghan National Security Forces and 1-508th PIR Soldiers worked together to provide security and help keep the attendees organized during the mission.
The VMO staff brought supplies with them to the austere location, which included lotions, cleansers, soap, toothbrushes, toothpaste, shampoo, medications and tarps to provide shade.
"The highlight of the two-day event was the amount of children that we were able to help," said Smith. "We treated over 200 children, that were all smiles and laughter when we gave them a toothbrush or medicine. It is not every day that we make a difference over here, but on these days we did."
"The 'hearts and minds' are the essence of our purpose to prevail," said Army Master Sgt. Doug Curry, CJTF-82 VMO medical staff member. "If we are to free people, we must commit diligently to the long term, helping the people of Afghanistan achieve a developed understanding of the simple, single word, 'freedom.'"
| Date Taken: | 06.15.2007 |
| Date Posted: | 06.18.2007 07:47 |
| Story ID: | 10859 |
| Location: | KANDAHAR, AF |
| Web Views: | 568 |
| Downloads: | 360 |
This work, Medical outreach programs bring healthcare to Afghanistan, by MAJ Vanessa Bowman, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
