|
BAGRAM AIR BASE, Afghanistan (July 2, 2008) - An airman and a
sailor from Combined Joint Task Force 101 here teamed up with
Afghan doctors and other coalition medics June 26 to host a village
medical outreach event in the village of Nilay in the Kohe Safi
district of Afghanistan's Parawan province.
The event was held to help foster relationships among coalition
forces, local governments and local doctors while improving the
health of Afghans living in the province, officials said.
Command officials try, whenever possible, to include women in
such events. Five women took part in this event: two health care
providers, two interpreters and a veterinarian, Air Force Capt.
Marshall Fiscus, Parwan province's chief medical officer, said.
"When you bring in this type of assistance, it really shows that
you respect their culture," said Navy Cmdr. Betsy Myhre, the
officer in charge of the cooperative medical assistance team. "Not
only is it better for the trust to allow females to see female
doctors, but [bringing in the veterinarians] shows that we care
about their livelihood, also."
Animals are very important to Afghan people and their
livelihood, Fiscus explained. The veterinarians set up outside and
inspected animals the villagers brought to them. They de-wormed and
vaccinated the animals and gave advice to the herd owners.
"We want to come in with a village concept," Fiscus explained.
"We really don't want to segregate, and that is why we bring in all
the different providers."
Myhre agreed.
"The key thing on these missions is that the people involved
truly understand the culture," she said. "We bring in people, such
as the interpreters from this country, to help [the villagers]
understand that we mean no harm."
|
