Medical clinic for children held at Shamail Daria village

KABUL, AFGHANISTAN

04.14.2009

Courtesy Story

International Security Assistance Force HQ Public Affairs

KABUL, Afghanistan — Spanish International Security Assistance Force doctors and members of the Provincial Reconstruction Team in Qual-e-Naw held a medical clinic north of the city at Shamail Daria village on April 2.

The clinic was arranged by the PRT's Civil Military Cooperation unit and was held in a building constructed by the Spanish Cooperation for Development Agency. The building will be handed over to Badghis province authorities for use as a teacher's training centre.

Patients were brought into the building accompanied by their local elders. A team of two doctors examined patients.

"The worst cases we saw were those of tuberculosis and congenital cataracts," said Spanish ISAF Army Nurse, Captain Alfonso Tomas.

For some children, the clinic visit was enough to make a dramatic improvement in their quality of life.

"In some of the cases we could have improved the survival of a child, at least in a short term, specifically for the children suffering from asthma, whooping cough and intestinal parasites," said Spanish ISAF Army Doctor Major Susana Jimeno.

Jimeno and Tomas also provided prescriptions for children with the assistance of an interpreter.

"This experience has given to me the opportunity to realize how precarious the health situation in this country really is," said Jimeno.

This was the first medical clinic held by the Qual-e-Naw PRT in that area. The PRT focuses the majority of its time and resources on rural areas surrounding the city.

"A total of 54 children, between two months and nine years old, were seen at the Shamail Daria clinic," said Spanish ISAF Public Affairs Officer Lieutenant Colonel Vicente Dalmau.

• Date Taken: 04.14.2009
• Date Posted: 04.14.2009 23:58
• Story ID: 32404
• Location: KABUL, AF