Village Medical Outreach (VMO)

Recently we conducted a VMO at a village north of Kandahar called "Sawza Da Qalacha" As we arrived there, it became apparent that they were definitely not use to US forces in their village. They were deadly afraid to show their faces, but as the day went on, they lightened up and became more comfortable with us and what we were trying to do for their people. Many of the people felt as though if they were found to be American supporters, that the Taliban would come and cut off their heads. So this fear permeated this village.

As you see pictured above the women mirrored the men in their fear of US forces. Nearby Sawza Da Qalacha village was a Kuchie Tribe, (whom are Nomads), wanderers. They live in tents and move from the mountains down to warmer climates of the desert during winter and back up during the summer. As you arrive you see open tents all over the desert. These people live the same way as they did thousands of years ago, by very meager means. It was also obvious that they had little to no means to obtain medical supplies or services.

In this culture the men and the women separate for almost everything. They do not socialize together, this includes seeing the doctor's. You have to have been there to see how much these people needed just the basic of medical care. It was so apparent that regular baths were not a part of their practices... This just was the way they lived. We were there just to, in some small way better their lives. And this day, I think we did. We were there only for a few hours, but what medical services we provided was truly needed.

This child was very shy and a beautiful little girl. She watched us from a distance and did not approach us, like most of the other children. She caught my eye because she stood out from the crowd.

As we go into these villages we carry along the Afghan National Police to assist in managing the populous and for added security. They were in awe of our equipment, the M-4 simple amazed them.

As Chuck Crombo of the South Carolina State Newspaper entertained the children, you notice a local Afghan being searched prior to going in to see the medical staff. The kids were simply amazed at looking at a digital picture of themselves. They probably have never seen a picture of themselves. It not only amazed the kids, the adults were equally amazed, but they were shy about asking to see the display on the camera.

This child really represents most of the children in the village. No shoes, dirty clothes and an obvious lack of hygiene. I don't say this in a negative manner, only to state the reality of how these kids live every day. There is no school, so no education, only a few of the men in the village had the means to ride a donkey or some other conveyance to town, so many were left lacking basic necessities. Most of the children patients that were seen were infected with worms, diarrhoea, all of which is due to a lack of running water and proper hygiene.

The women and young girls line up for medical care on the opposite side of the facility away from the men. It really was amazing to see how much of an impact we had on this village by simply trying to bring some level of medical care to them, that they could not get elsewhere.

Above, women from the Kuchi Village head back to their tents after being seen by the doctors. We had to have women docs for the women and men for the men.... That is the only way we could administer appropriate care to them...

The above picture speaks for itself. These Kuchi women came that best way they could, here another Kuchi woman carries an elderly woman and child in a wheel-borrow. For years the Taliban told these people how bad the US forces were, and today we left them with a different picture of us. It truly was a wonderful feeling to be a part of this event. We are really doing great things here in Afghanistan, but the information is not being spread like it should... CPT Maureen Sevilla and MAJ Charles Blankman were the attending physician assistants that made this event a huge success.

Security is one thing that is very important, but these folks need HOPE!!!!