Photo By Staff Sgt. Angela Ohearn | Maj. Jessica Huwa, the deputy commander and operations officer for the 72nd Medical...... read more read more
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Veterinarians from the 72nd Medical Detachment (Veterinary Service Support) and the Kuwait army shared experiences and knowledge at the Kuwait Ministry of Defense’s Military Equestrian Ranch, July 17, 2016.
“They have three Kuwait army veterinarians here that we work with on an every-other-week basis doing equine-medicine work such as colic cases, lameness cases and pregnancy cases,” said Maj. Jessica Huwa, the deputy commander and operations officer for the 72nd MED DET (VSS).
This enduring partnership was established around three years ago, said Huwa, a Prosperity, South Carolina native.
“It increases our capability and it increases their capability,” she said. “Together… We’re increasing each other’s capabilities”
Together, Camp Arifjan and Kuwaiti veterinarians have examined, assessed and treated animals at the ranch. The ranch, owned by the Kuwait military, is home to approximately 70 horses and 30 ponies.
“The Kuwait Ministry of Defense has an amazing equestrian program,” Huwa said. “They participate and compete out in the civilian side of the house. They do endurance, jumping and a lot of the horses are used for ceremonial purposes. This center plays a major part in housing the animals as well as providing their veterinary care.”
The Soldiers assist the Kuwaitis by providing their veterinary expertise even when they aren’t physically there.
Maj. Ashraful Alam, a Bangladesh native and veterinarian with the Kuwait army, said that he sends photographs, x-rays and descriptions of patients and asks the Soldiers for their advice.
“There was a horse suffering from lameness,” Alam said. “There was an x-ray that was confusing. They gave us a concrete solution. It was a great help to us and the patient is now healed.”
Capt. Robert Fathke, a Washington, D.C. native and a veterinarian for the 72nd MED DET (VSS) said that working together provides a mutual benefit.
“We help them with any cases they might have and by help, what I really mean is we collaborate with them,” Fathke said. “We have a lot of insight to share with them but they also have a tremendous amount of insight to share with us. As veterinarians, it’s a very rewarding experience for both parties to collaborate with each other and learn from one another.”
It’s this collaboration that strengthens the relationship between Soldiers and the Kuwaitis, he said.
“We’re the United States Army here in Kuwait,” Fathke said. “This is an integral effort. It’s a very important part of maintaining good relationships with our host nation.”
This opportunity is one of the many contributions Army veterinarians make to support the U.S. Army Central’s mission at Camp Arifjan, Kuwait, Huwa said.
“I think the opportunity should definitely be enduring,” Huwa said. “It should be something that future rotations and future veterinary detachments continue to do. It only makes us better.”
| Date Taken: | 07.17.2016 |
| Date Posted: | 07.21.2016 02:46 |
| Story ID: | 204554 |
| Location: | KW |
| Web Views: | 208 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
This work, Camp Arifjan and Kuwaiti veterinarians collaborate, by SSG Angela Ohearn, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
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