Nuristan PRT Female Engagement Team holds MEDCAP for children

By U.S. Air Force 2nd Lt. Natassia Cherne

Nuristan Provincial Reconstruction Team Public Affairs

NURISTAN PROVINCE, Afghanistan – The Nuristan Provincial Reconstruction Team’s Female Engagement Team held a medical civic action program directed at children in a remote village in eastern Afghanistan’s Nuristan province Jan. 16 and 17.

Four female servicemembers from the PRT provided medical care and personal hygiene training during the visit.

U.S. Navy Lt. Jennifer Dreiling, the senior medical officer assigned to the PRT native from McLean, Va., provided medical treatment to over 50 children. The children they treated in the village had common cold symptoms, body aches, skin rashes, and gastrointestinal problems.

“I think it was very successful,” Dreiling said. “It was nice to treat children for once we don’t to see that population very often.”

One little girl came to the MEDCAP to receive a referral for her arm, which was severely burned when she was younger. The scar tissue on the burn was preventing her from moving her arm. To help her, Dreiling referred her to Indira Ghandi children’s hospital which treats children and gives family members a place to stay for free.

The young girl’s brother said he had heard the announcement of the MEDCAP on the radio and knew she needed special treatment, so he brought her in.

Another part of the MEDCAP was personal hygiene lessons. The classes taught the children how to brush their teeth, tips for treating a sore throat, and the importance of washing their hands.

U.S. Navy Petty Officer 1st Class Kathleen Leach, an operations specialist for the PRT and native of Smithfield, R.I., taught the personal hygiene classes to the boys, while another member of the team taught the girls’ class.

“This was the most rewarding mission I’ve done. I feel like we positively affected the local populace and it was nice to teach the children health and sanitation,” Leach said. “We were able to give back to the community.”

The female engagement team that held the MEDCAP plans to do many more missions to reach out to young girls and women.

NURISTAN PROVINCE, Afghanistan -U.S. Navy Lt. Jennifer Dreiling, the senior medical officer assigned to the PRT native from McLean, Va., examines a young girl during a medical civic action program directed at children in a small village in eastern Afghanistan’s Nuristan province, Jan.17. (U.S. Air Force photo/2nd Lt Natassia Cherne Nuristan Provincial Reconstruction Team Public Affairs)

NURISTAN PROVINCE, Afghanistan - U.S. Navy Petty Officer 1st Class Kathleen Leach, the operations specialist for the Nuristan Provincial Reconstruction team, native of Smithfield, R.I., and a female interpreter teach young girls how to brush their teeth in a small village in eastern Afghanistan’s Nuristan province, Jan. 17. The PRT’s Female Engagement Team taught several classes on the importance of hygiene and provided medical care to the children who needed it. (U.S. Air Force photo/2nd Lt Natassia Cherne Nuristan Provincial Reconstruction Team Public Affairs)

NURISTAN PROVINCE, Afghanistan – Two young Afghan boys enjoy Poptarts after the Nuristan Provincial Reconstruction Team Female Engagement Team taught them about the importance of personal hygiene at a small village in eastern Afghanistan’s Nuristan province, Jan. 17 The Nuristan PRT visited the remote village and provided free medical care and classes on personal hygiene. (U.S. Air Force photo/2nd Lt Natassia Cherne Nuristan Provincial Reconstruction Team Public Affairs)

NURISTAN PROVINCE, Afghanistan – A young girl waits to be examined by the Nuristan Provincial Reconstruction Team’s Female Engagement Team doctor at a small village in eastern Afghanistan’s Nuristan province, Jan. 17. During the two day visit, the PRT provided free medical care and personal hygiene classes to the local children.(U.S. Air Force photo/2nd Lt Natassia Cherne Nuristan Provincial Reconstruction Team Public Affairs)