Posted on 08/08/2005 4:28:54 PM PDT by SandRat
KABUL, Afghanistan, Aug. 8, 2005 — The recent grand opening of the Afghan National Army’s Darulaman Garrison troop medical clinic marked the completion of the Afghan National Army’s 201st Corps’ third new soldier healthcare facility.
The other 201st Corps clinics, located at the Pol-e-Charkhi Garrison and the Kabul Military Training Center, were completed in August 2004 and February 2005, respectively.
The opening of the new clinics is a clear indication of the Afghan National Army’s movement toward well-managed, resourced healthcare for its soldiers.
As the Afghan National Army continues to grow toward a final end-strength of 70,000 troops, the need for quality, accessible healthcare for its soldiers increases as well.
"This new facility and equipment will help us better care for our soldiers. Soon we will be able to stop many common problems and keep our soldiers healthy and strong."
Afghan Army Col. (Dr.) Ullah Obaid
“The (Afghan National Army) is growing very quickly,” said Afghan Army Col. (Dr.) Gul Estani, the 201st Corps’ 1st Brigade surgeon. “Our healthcare assets must continue to keep up with this rapid pace so that we can provide the necessary care for our soldiers.”
Responsible for the daily status of his brigade’s medical equipment, supplies, training and personnel, Estani realizes the importance of quality healthcare for Afghan National Army soldiers. “If we fail to care for our soldiers it will have a negative impact on the (Afghan National Army) as a whole,” he said.
The new troop medical clinics not only provide daily sick-call for the soldiers, they also provide emergency medical treatment to units in training and on missions supporting Afghan Army operations.
Of the three new troop medical clinics, Kabul Military Training Center is the busiest, since it supports the garrison as well as all of the soldiers undergoing Afghan National Army basic training.
“It was challenging supporting our soldiers here in our old clinic,” said Afghan Army Col. (Dr.) Ullah Obaid, commander at the Kabul Military Training Center clinic. “This new medical facility gives us the room, equipment and space that we need to properly treat our soldiers.”
On average, Obaid and his staff care for 200 troops per day. “We see more than 5,000 troops per month at our clinic for all types of problems,” he said.
Those soldiers who have severe injuries or illnesses that can’t be treated at the clinic are transferred to the Afghan National Army National Military Hospital, which serves as the foundation of the Afghan Army’s military health program.
“Soldiers are sent to the hospital if we don’t have sufficient medicine here to give them,” Obaid said.
The new Darulaman troop medical clinic will help to ease some of the burden of care from the Kabul Military Training Center clinic since it will now assume medical support responsibilities for the Afghan National Army recruiting facilities located in Kabul. The new clinic will soon provide physical examinations for Afghan National Army recruits processing through the area’s recruiting facilities.The three new facilities provide the 201st Corps’ medical staffs with resources and capabilities previously unavailable.
“Our new buildings are very luxurious,” Obaid said. “We have a nice records management room, and everyone who comes into the clinics can register himself.”
Because of the new facilities and equipment, Obaid has been able to start tracking the number and types of visits by soldiers, compiling an extensive log of the various ailments affecting them.
Obaid believes the data being collected now will someday be used to track and predict increases in diseases at certain times of the year, which can then be used to mitigate or eliminate disease-related training detractors.
“This new facility and equipment will help us better care for our soldiers,” Obaid said. “Soon we will be able to stop many common problems and keep our soldiers healthy and strong.”
Progress in Afghanistan
Rack itt Sandrat
See it is Karl Rove fault LOL!
BTTT!!!!!!!
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