Coalition medics host VMO in Parwan province

PARWAN PROVINCE, Afghanistan -- A young Afghan child receives a medical check tfor the burn scars on her face by Cmdr. Beth Myhre, the officer in charge of the cooperative medical assistance team, as part of a village medical outreach in Nilay Village in the Kohe Sofe District, here June 26. VMOs are missions that cooperate with the local doctors of villages to help bring in local nationals to get treated for ailments that might otherwise go untreated, and to help learn from each other on how to deal with different types of medical issues. (U.S. Army photo by Pvt. Tamara Gabbard)

Coalition medics host VMO in Parwan province

Published July 3, 2008
By Pvt. Tamara Gabbard
382nd Public Affairs Detachment

BAGRAM AIR FIELD, Afghanistan -- An Airman and Sailor teamed up with Afghan doctors and other Coalition medics, June 26, and hosted a village medical outreach in the Nilay Village of the Kohe Safi District, Parawan province, Afghanistan.

The VMO was held to help foster relationships between Coalition forces, local governments and local doctors - and aimed at improving the health of Afghans living in the province.

When VMOs are held, the command tries to include female providers, interpreters and veterinarians.

With this mission, they were able to bring two female providers with two interpreters and one veterinarian, said Capt. Marshall Fiscus, Parwan Provincial Reconstruction Team chief medical officer.

"When you bring in this type of assistance it really shows that you respect their culture," said Cmdr. Betsy Myhre, the officer in charge of the cooperative medical assistance team. "Not only is it better for the trust to allow females to see female doctors, but [bringing in the vets] shows that we care about their livelihood, also."

Animals are very important to Afghan people and their livelihood, she explained.

The vets set up outside and inspected animals the villagers brought to them. They de-wormed and vaccinated them and gave advice to the herd owners.

"We want to come in with a village concept," said Captain Fiscus. "We really don't want to segregate, and that is why we bring in all the different providers."
Commander Myhre agreed.

"The key thing on these missions is that the people involved truly understand the culture," she said. "We bring in people, such as the interpreters from this country, to help [the villagers] understand that we mean no harm."