In This Edition:
Afghanistan construction centre graduates third class
Provincial Reconstruction Team Brings Medical & Infrastructure Development to Gardez |
Capt. James Parris meets with Dr. Nadir Noori (right), Paktya's director of public health, recently to discuss numerous health projects. Captain Parris is the Provincial Reconstruction Team Paktya's director of medical plans. (U.S. Air Force photo/Capt. Stacie N. Shafran)
by Capt. Stacie N. Shafran
Provincial Reconstruction Team Paktya
1/26/2009 - GARDEZ, Afghanistan (AFNS) -- Servicemembers of the Provincial Reconstruction Team Paktya in Gardez, Afghanistan, are helping to develop the infrastructure necessary for the Afghan people to succeed in a post-conflict environment.
One member of the Paktya PRT is Capt. James Parris.
The physician assistant from the 96th Medical Operations Squadron at Eglin Air Force Base, Fla., had five days notice for the deployment to support Operation Enduring Freedom. Captain Parris is the PRT's director of medical plans. On a daily basis, he maintains responsibilities to his team, the local nationals, and the Afghan government.
"My work here is more of coordination, meetings, project overview and monitoring," he said. "Before I came here, I thought my primary mission would be taking care of my team for nine months. Never in my wildest dreams did I think I would be coordinating projects that affect the lives of almost 500,000 Afghans."
The forward operating base he and the PRT team are based at is located just outside of Gardez City in Paktya Province, approximately 45 miles from the Pakistan border. At an altitude of 7,680 feet above sea level, the province is about the size of Rhode Island and is populated with nearly half a million people.
The teams have become an integral part of the long-term strategy to transition the lines of security, governance, and economics to the people of Afghanistan. Teams strive to legitimize the Afghan government by facilitating provincial development, security, and reconstruction in order to create enduring security and stability within the province they serve.
Captain Parris supervises three enlisted Air Force medics assigned to the team. They treat the American Soldiers, civilians, Afghan security guards and interpreters who reside on the FOB.
"Together we are responsible for taking care of our team's illnesses or injuries," he said. "We are well prepared to care for injuries, whether combat related or otherwise. My team also conducts weekly medical training for the PRT, ensuring we're all ready in the event of an attack on the FOB or on a convoy."
The captain also oversees programs related to the province's medical or health concerns. In the past, PRTs offered medical civil affairs programs that provided mobile medical care to local Afghans.
"This helped people directly, but over the years we found that they essentially undermined the Afghan government and the local economy," he said. "If our medical team treats ill Afghans, this takes money away from the local doctors. If we provide medicine, the local pharmacist can't feed his family. These MEDCAPS also had an American "face" on them, something we now strive to avoid. Our PRT's goal is to develop and foster the Afghan government's credibility and strength."
Captain Parris empowers the locals to work directly with the minister of public health, provincial health director, and director of the provincial hospital to formulate plans for improvement and to discuss the population's health status.
"We are striving for quality and sustainability in all areas," Captain Parris said. "As the saying goes, we are no longer giving people fish. We are teaching them to fish so that they can sustain long after our mission here is complete."
Most of the villages still lack power or transportation and have limited health facilities. Getting to a health facility is still a long, grueling process for some. In the past, people died from illness or injury due to the inability to get to a health facility. Now the members of the PRT are focused on projects, such as building road, that will connect people to their infrastructure and increase trade.
The captain arranges for clinics to be staffed and ensures that needed equipment and medicine are available. He's overseeing a $7.5 million 100-bed provincial hospital, a mid-wife training center, a nurse training center, a maternity hospital, an eye care hospital, as well as the building of numerous clinics.
In order to combat malnutrition among children, Captain Parris is trying to institute a food program province-wide over the winter months that will aid children under 5.
The mortality rate for this age group is tremendous and nearly 20 percent of the children here do not reach their 5th birthday, he said. The "strong foods" program uses locally purchased items such as almonds, milk, oil, sugar, and liquid vitamins to make high quality "plumpy nut" food. It is a paste that kids love and consuming it increases their weight a pound per week, restoring their health status to normal in as little as six to eight weeks.
With six more months remaining on his deployment, Captain Parris is optimistic about the progress he and his team will bring to Paktya.
"I have always wanted to make a difference and help people live a better life," he said. "That's the reason I became a (physician assistant) more than eight years ago. After this assignment to PRT Paktya, I will know for sure that I have turned my dream into reality."
American Forces Press ServiceOn the Ground: U.S. Troops, Civilians Bring Goodwill to Afghanistan
WASHINGTON, Jan. 27, 2009 – Even as military efforts increase in Afghanistan, coalition forces reach out to Afghan civilians with humanitarian aid, job training and other supportive efforts.
U.S. soldiers distributed more than 300 backpacks filled with clothes, shoes, school supplies and hygiene items to high school students near Bagram Airfield on Jan. 22. The backpacks were donated by Americans throughout the United States after soldiers serving with U.S. Forces Afghanistan asked for the items through a program dubbed “Operation Backpack” that was posted on a Web page.
Jose Garzon, left, and Ted Whittenberger, right, both with the U.S. Agency for International Development, pose in front of the Konar Construction Center honor graduates with Gov. Sayed Fazlullah Wahidi of Afghanistan’s Konar province, Jan. 18, 2009. U.S. Army photo by Spc. Russell Gilchrest
(Click photo for screen-resolution image);high-resolution image available.
The program coordinator is a Special Forces soldier who said the program was a collaborative effort among him and several others in the unit. The main reason to start the program was "to help alleviate human suffering, and demonstrate American goodwill to the children of Afghanistan,” one of the organizers.
Winning the hearts and minds of the Afghan people, he added, was another inspiration. "We want the Afghan people to see that the American people care about them."
U.S. officials in Afghanistan’s Konar province saw the success of their efforts Jan. 27 when the Konar Construction Center graduated 116 local workers in the eastern region of Afghanistan, including several from nearby provinces such as Laghman and Nuristan.
The center, which is locally owned and operated, teaches Afghans construction techniques including masonry, electrical work, rebar tying, painting and carpentry.
Workers who graduate are highly sought-after in the local economy, with a 100 percent placement success rate. In fact, the second graduating class had 136 graduates and 172 available jobs to choose from.
"Before, we were going to Pakistan for goods like furniture. Now we have more skilled and educated workers that can do it here in Konar," Konar Gov. Sayed Fazlullah Wahidi said. "We can only hope that one day we can do the same thing for business and agriculture."
PRT Konar has high hopes for the upcoming development of the KCC. Already, it has received a shipment of equipment to conduct material testing. Currently, material testing has to be done in more developed regions of Afghanistan or taken to Pakistan. Soon, qualified personnel will be able to do this work for a competitive fee.
Also, teachers are preparing to teach advanced courses. Tuition will be paid by the student’s employer. All proceeds will help maintain the costs of the facility, allowing it to be self sufficient.
The center also has started implementing English classes, its first teacher arriving within the past month. Local construction companies also use the KCC structures to provide foreman or business classes to their employees.
The initial costs, provided by PRT Konar, total $200,000 to rehabilitate and refurbish an abandoned construction site with a barracks for students and two instruction bays for classes. The U.S. Agency for International Development continues to provide monthly funding to the school for classes.
(Compiled from U.S. Forces Afghanistan news releases.)
Related Sites:
U.S. Forces Afghanistan
Area children gather around a coalition forces truck loaded with more than 300 backpacks and other school supplies as it enters the Gulam Ali Boys and Girls School in Bagram, Afghanistan, Jan. 22, 2009. Army photo by Sgt. Lynne Eickstedt
Download screen-resolution
Download high-resolution
Afghanistan construction centre graduates third class
KABUL, Afghanistan - The Konar Construction Centre (KCC) in the eastern region of Afghanistan recently graduated 116 local workers, including several from nearby provinces such as Laghman and Nuristan.
The KCC, which is locally owned and operated, teaches Afghans construction techniques including masonry, electrical work, rebar tying, painting and carpentry.
Officials from U.S. Agriculture Aid and Development and Provisional Reconstruction Team Konar attended the event.
“The graduates have completed great work during their course of study,” said Navy Cmdr. Murray Tynch, PRT Konar commanding officer. “I know they are ready to go to work and do their parts in bringing a brighter future to their children and the people of Afghanistan.”
In an area where money, jobs and experience are scarce, the construction centre offers a way for fighting age males to learn a valuable skill so that they can provide for their families.
“I know those who roam the earth after us will experience the benefit of the hard work from these KCC graduates. Their children will see the safety of Konar roads and bridges and enjoy the benefits of new schools and hospitals,” said Tynch.
Workers who graduate are highly sought after in the local economy, with a 100 percent placement success rate. In fact, the second graduating class had 136 graduates and 172 available jobs to choose from.
“Before we were going to Pakistan for goods, like furniture, now we have more skilled and educated workers that can manufacture them here in Konar,” Sayed Fazlullah Wahidi, Governor of Konar province, stated. “We can only hope that one day we can do the same thing for business and agriculture.”
PRT Konar has high hopes for the upcoming development of the KCC. Already, it has received a shipment of equipment to conduct material testing. Currently, material testing has to be done in more developed regions of Afghanistan or taken to Pakistan.
Also, teachers are preparing to teach advanced courses. Tuition will be paid by the construction company employing the individual. All proceeds will help maintain the costs of the facility, allowing it to be self sufficient.
The centre has also started implementing English classes, its first teacher arriving within the past month. Local construction companies also use the KCC structures to provide foreman or business classes to their employees.
The initial costs, provided by PRT Konar, total $200,000 to refurbish an abandoned construction site with a barracks for students and two instruction bays for classes. USAID continues to provide monthly funding to the school for classes.
This site is located in the Shigal District of Konar, allowing a close proximity to Asadabad and road access for students.
Through hard work and dedication, Afghan locals have created more than 350 skilled construction workers to help rebuild Konar province. In future years, the KCC should be able to train many more. Governor Wahidi explained the graduates’ new responsibility “You are the new generation. You are future of this country. You will build this country.”
Contact Information ISAF Public Affairs Office
Tel: +93 (0)79 51 1155 - Mobile: 0093 (0) 799 55 8291 pressoffice@hq.isaf.nato.int - www.nato.int/isaf/
Stumble It!
