Afghans provide medical care to refugees, coalition forces support

FARAH, Afghanistan (June 09, 2010) – Ministry of Health officials and coalition forces conducted a Village Medical Outreach Program (VMOP) at Mahajerbad Secondary School, for local village members in Farah, Afghanistan, June 9. The VMOP was an opportunity for Farah health officials to extend their reach by travelling to local villages and providing evaluations and medical care to local Afghans. Coalition forces in attendance were there in a support capacity.

“We provided medication, transportation and security in order to enable the Afghan medical providers to evaluate and treat other Afghans,” U.S. Navy Lt. Gareth Evans of San Diego, Calif., physician assistant for Provincial Reconstruction Team (PRT) Farah. The school was filled with men, women and children anxiously waiting to be evaluated by local Afghan medical professionals. Evaluation areas and a pharmacy were set up in class rooms. Once a patient was seen by a medical provider, they were given a sheet of paper with a written prescription and instructed to retrieve their medication at the pharmacy window. A window in one of the classrooms was used as a barrier between the patients and the pharmacist providing the medications.

“We don’t always have the ability to make it to the hospital, so we appreciate the Ministry of Health’s help,” said Nafasgul, head of women’s shura in Mahajerbad village.

In many provinces, treatment and health care is done through Medical Civil Affairs Programs (MEDCAP’s). MEDCAP’s are initiated and conducted by coalition forces for Afghans. Hosting the first VMOP in Farah, showcased the progression Government Islamic Republic of Afghanistan (GIROA) has made in taking the lead in support of their people.

VMOP’s enable capacity building for the health structure in Farah province. It allows Afghans to evaluate and treat fellow Afghans, said U.S. Navy Cmdr. Adam Armstrong of Clearwater, Fla., senior medical officer, PRT Farah.

The VMOP focused on the people of Mahajerbad and neighbouring villages. Ministry Health officials picked the area that would most benefit from a medical outreach program. In their preplanning they assessed three potential villages.

“We wanted to choose a village that needed medical care, and the refugees that live in Mahajerbad need assistance more than other people,” said Rahim Faizi, head nurse of Farah Hospital.

Many of the refugees that attended the VMOP cannot easily travel to Farah Hospital for treatment, so this outreach program was a way for the Ministry of Health officials to provide care to people in remote areas.

“I think reaching out to those remote regions is very helpful in reminding people that they are not forgotten. Whether it is medical, reconstruction, or just coming out to say, “hi,” people know that the government is tangible and cares about their needs,” U.S. Navy Lt. Gareth Evans of San Diego, Calif., physician assistant for Provincial Reconstruction Team (PRT) Farah.