On Monday the 9th, several of us (medical corpsman, line officers and myself; all three services) went with the ANA (Afghan Nat'l Army) to a village 2 miles away to provide a MEDCAP; medical civil affairs program. We spent the morning at a mud-hut village providing medical care for the first time ever for many of the residents. The men and women visited separate tents to meet with medics from the US and ANA. I primarily provided consultation when the medic needed help. Medications like antibiotics, pain relievers and creams were dispensed and advice given. After all had been seen, shoes donated by primarily US relief services, clothes and food were distributed. Each woman was given a plastic bucket to aid in getting well water. Attached is a picture of me with the elders and a picture of kids. Despite the mud huts and extreme poverty, they were all dressed in clean clothes and the girls' apparel was colorful and sparkling. Some of the kids ran around on the hot, dry, rocky ground in bare feet with not a whince or a whimper. The climate is desert dry with some rain in the winter. They survive by herding sheep and goats that can survive the harsh environment and with a bit of irrigated farming.
The next day, I provided my first official care/mentoring/teaching at the ANA hospital. This will be my primary mission. We saw a case of amoeba, one with a couple of parasites, and a mild stroke. Most of the cases were surgeries with appendectomies, hernias and hemorrhoids top of the list. Much needs to be done but we will certainly make a huge differnce.
5 comments:
Fascinating! What an adventure for you and a blessing for others!
Sis
Quite striking how desolate the landscape is there.
It is all a light off-white color except for the brown mountains several miles away. Dusty doesn't begin to describe it.
What is there in the way of entertainment? How do you pass the evenings?
Those are some cute kids. I see you mention antiobiotics are being dispensed - Are easily treated/prevented illnesses prevalent? Are any of the locals immunised?
Sanjoy, the base provides a variety of light entertainment like paperbacks, computer access, DVDs, 2 outdoor movie nights each week, an unofficial Texas Hold 'em night, Bingo on Sundays. The ANA base allows local merchants to have a bazaar each Friday. Lots of haggling but interesting stuff. I've been reading, watching movies, hanging with my homies, yakking with the family on Skype or special military phone lines.
There are a number of easily treated infectious diseases but a lack of vaccines.
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