Medical Supplies Delivery Helps Hundreds of Afghan Villagers

An Afghan villager smiles after receiving a portable radio from Afghan National Army soldiers from the 203rd Kandak. The man visited the Tarin Kowt Hospital in Afghanistan’s Oruzgan province Jan. 2, 2008, to receive free health care provided by the Afghan government. U.S. Army photo   (Click photo for screen-resolution image);high-resolution image available.

Afghan soldiers unloaded a trailer full of medical supplies, medicine, infant formula and personal hygiene items at the hospital.

Oruzgan Gov. Assadollah Hamdan thanked the hospital staff for its hard work providing medical care for citizens throughout the province. He also handed out notebooks, pencils, coloring books and crayons for the children, as well as radios for adults visiting the hospital.

Doctors and medics from coalition and Afghan security forces met with hospital director Dr. Agha Khan and offered to help with medical procedures or seeing patients, but the director explained that the hospital had everything well in hand.

“We were impressed with how attentive the Afghan health care staff was toward using aseptic techniques during patient care and the cleanliness of the hospital,” a coalition medic said. “The Tarin Kowt Hospital is well staffed and well equipped to provide general health care to patients.”

The hospital director expressed his thanks to the Afghan government and security forces for quickly responding to a request for more medical supplies, but said more is needed to better serve the Afghan people.

The hospital’s deputy director escorted engineers from Afghan and coalition forces to assess infrastructure improvements the hospital needs. They assessed areas where they could assist and developed a plan for future support.

“This project clearly demonstrates that the government of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan and Afghan national security forces continue to bring development, medical care, and education to the Afghan citizens,” a coalition forces soldier said. “They care for the citizens of Afghanistan.”

(From a Combined Joint Task Force 82 news release.)