Medical Supplies Arrive, Helping Hundreds of Afghan Villagers

BAGRAM AIRFIELD, AFGHANISTAN - Afghan National Security Forces and representatives of the Ministry of Public Health were assisted by Coalition forces delivering medical supplies Jan. 2 to the Tarin Kowt Hospital in Tarin Kowt District, Oruzgan Province.

ANSF soldiers unloaded a trailer full of medical supplies, medicine, infant formula and personal hygiene items at the hospital.  Also, Oruzgan Provincial Gov. Assadollah Hamdan thanked the hospital staff for all its hard work providing medical care for citizens throughout the province.  Gov. Hamdan also handed out notebooks, pencils, coloring books and crayons for the children, as well as radios for adults visiting the hospital.

ANSF and Coalition force doctors and medics met with hospital director Dr. Agha Khan, offering to help with medical procedures or seeing patients, but the director explained the hospital had everything well-in-hand.

"We were impressed with how attentive the Afghan healthcare staff was toward using aseptic techniques during patient care and the cleanliness of the hospital," said a Coalition medic.  "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 Government of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan and ANSF for quickly responding to a request for more medical supplies, but said more is still needed at the hospital to help better serve the needs of the Afghan people. 

The hospital's deputy director escorted ANSF and Coalition engineers to assess infrastructure improvements the hospital needs in order to provide even better care to Afghan citizens.  ANSF doctors and soldiers 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," said an unidentified Coalition forces soldier.  "They care for the citizens of Afghanistan."

Source: Bagram Media Center - Combined Joint Task Force 82

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