Clinic partially re-opens after four month closure

GHAZNI, AFGHANISTAN

10.31.2009

Story by Master Sgt. Sarah Webb 

Combined Joint Task Force - 82 PAO

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GHAZNI PROVINCE, Afghanistan — A medical clinic on Forward Operating Base Ghazni partially re-opened its doors this week after a four month closure.

The clinic was closed in July after receiving a threatening report that female suicide bombers from Pakistan were planning to target the clinic.

"This facility had been open for five years," said Lt Baugh, Naval Physicians Assistant assigned to Provincial Reconstruction Team-Ghazni. "It was scheduled to be closed for one day. One day turned into two, then three, and so on. Now we're four months into the closure."

On average, 100 patients visited the medical facility daily. The majority of these patients were women and children.

In the past, people would travel from remote locations of the province to receive care from the Coalition Force clinic.

"The majority of the patients were Hazaran and Tajiks who look favorably upon coalition forces," said Baugh. "Essentially, we closed the doors on our friends."

FOB Ghazni's clinic currently has one medical doctor as well as a midwife who will be able to see patients once the clinic fully reopens.

Dr. Masood, an employee of the PRT, has been working at the clinic for the last four years.

"He's an incredible asset because he speaks three different languages, making it so that he can communicate with the diverse locals," said Baugh. "Above just working at the clinic, Dr. Masood travels with the team on missions to medical facilities. He has made it a lot easier to conduct assessments of the clinics and speak with the workers there."

Traditionally, women and children in this country have suffered because they have the least access to care.

"In the past, the women have traveled as far away as Ajristan to seek medical attention from a female provider," Baugh said.

In general, there are limited resources to people when they go to the clinics in the province.

"The big problem is the medications and the level of care," Baugh said. "Although the standards in the area are steadily improving, the local population associates this place with giving a better level of care. A lot of them are more willing to come in and see us because they think they are going to leave with better medications and better care."

"We want to give them a place where they can receive free care," said Baugh. "This care is going to help build relationships with the public."

To assist with providing care for the people, Dr. Zia Gul Espandii, the only female Provincial Health Director in Afghanistan, has offered to provide the clinic with much needed immunizations.

"With the immunizations from the health director, we can vaccinate the kids and reduce the infant mortality rate in Ghazni," Baugh said.

The clinic is currently open the local nationals and Afghan National Security Force members who have access to the FOB.

"It's a win win for us to provide care to the ANP for three reasons," Baugh said. "One, by treating them it increases their morale because they feel like someone is taking care of them. Two, if we can immunize them, it keeps them healthy thus increasing their operational capabilities. Three, with the big push to integrate coalition forces with the ANP, it helps to avoid them getting us sick as well. All it takes is for one guy in the training center to get the flu, and everyone gets the flu. We protect them, and in return we protect ourselves."

Currently, in a ten mile radius of the FOB there are seven clinics (which were built by coalition forces).

"The last couple of PRT's focused on infrastructure," Baugh said. "We now have more clinics than most places do which is great but it's still not enough ... it's just not enough."