ANASF lead medical clinic in Deh Rawood district villages

URUZGAN PROVINCE, AFGHANISTAN

05.25.2011

Story by Staff Sgt. Ryan Whitney 

NATO Special Operations Component Command-Afghanistan

URUZGAN PROVINCE, Afghanistan - A combined team of Afghan National Army special forces and coalition special operations forces held a medical clinic in villages in the Deh Rawood District of Uruzgan province May 25.

The temporary clinic, which treated more than 80 local villagers, included women and children who were treated by medics assigned to a coalition female engagement and treatment team.

“The clinic was held to encourage cooperation with the combined forces here,” said a coalition special operations team leader. “We also wanted to assist local people who lack medical services.”

According to team leaders in the ANASF partner force, the farmers in the area recently started opposing Taliban attempts to tax village crops to raise funds for insurgent activity.

“In the past this area has been a hotbed for insurgents, but recently the villagers have taken a stand against their intimidation,” said a coalition special operations team leader.

Prior to the combined team’s engagement, the only medical services available to the village people were drugs that were sold in the local bazaar. According to coalition medics treating the villagers, these drugs often hurt more than they helped.

“Many people would obtain the wrong medicine at the bazaar, which in turn would either create new symptoms, or strengthen the old ones,” said the coalition medic.

Upon exiting the villages, the combined team left bags of hygiene items and demonstrated the proper ways to use them, in order to facilitate an improved quality of life for villagers.

“This was a rewarding operation for us today,” said a coalition medic who participated in the clinic. “We were able to come in here and provide medical services to an impoverished people.”

• Date Taken: 05.25.2011
• Date Posted: 05.31.2011 04:22
• Story ID: 71344
• Location: URUZGAN PROVINCE, AF