Team Zabul treat animals, foster relationships

Published May 4, 2009
By 1st Lt. Amber Balken
Zabul Provincial Reconstruction Team

Zabul, Afghanistan -- A joint service team of doctors and veterinarians along with local vets from Southern Afghanistan traveled through Taliban safe havens to provide much needed medical attention to animals in the outlying districts of Zabul Province.

Members of the Zabul Provincial Reconstruction Team, Embedded Training Team, Army veterinarians, and Afghan para vets took part in a 10-day veterinarian medical outreach in the districts of Suri and Argendab. The mission provided care for subsistence animals in an areas not usually reached by vet care.

The mission began in the Northern part of Zabul Province, with the help of service members at Forward Operating Base Lane, the team cared for about 250 animals, mostly treated for worms and some for external wounds. Several farmers brought their herds to the FOB to be seen by the vet team.

"This type of mission is so important for the people of Zabul Province," said Air Force Capt. (Dr.) Errico. "Animals in this area are used for subsistence, the farmers raise theses animals to provide food for their families."

Over the past five years, the animal population in Zabul has decreased by roughly 70%. In 2003, the province had 800,000 total subsistence animals in 2008 that number has decreased to 5,400.

"The goal of this mission was not only to treat the animals but also to build capacity in the Afghan para vets," said Doctor Errico. "We were there to help build trust between the Afghan people and the local para vets."

The military veterinarians were there to assist the Afghans in their practice and to help them in their proficiency. In the United States, veterinarians go to school for five years, in the Afghanistan, the para vet training is only six months.

The second part of the trip took place in the district of Suri, where the team actually traveled with the ETT to villages surrounding FOB Wolverine. The $100 million expansion and the increase of American Forces in the upcoming months have left some villages less than happy.

The partnership of the PRT, The Vet Team, The para vets, ETT and ANSF to provide critical assistance to the people of the surrounding villages, has helped to bring positive feelings toward the coalition forces in the area.

The team traveled to five villages in five days and treated a nearly 1,500 animals.

This was more than just a veterinarian mission, commented Doctor Errico, with the expansion of FOB Wolverine and the increase of troops, the mission also turned into relationship building.

The team traveled to villages directly affected by the expansion of the FOB, and were very well received.

"It was very important to reach out to these villages, if not only to help treat their animal population, but to increase the support of the Government of Zabul and the coalition forces," commented Doctor Errico.

The success of this mission is a direct credit to the teamwork of Team Zabul and the visiting Army veterinarians.