In this edition
Coalition
troops care for people of Oruzgan
Afghanistan International Bank Opens Doors, Economic Opportunities
Afghan women parliamentarians visit NATO
Coalition troops care for people of Oruzgan
February 26, 2009
KABUL, Afghanistan – The hope for a healthier life grows strong in Deh Rawod District, Oruzgan Province, thanks to troops from multiple nations dedicated to the medical well-being of the Afghan people.
Medical professionals from the Combined Joint Special Operations Task Force – Afghanistan (CJSOTF-A), U.S. Police Mentoring Team, Danish Provincial Reconstruction Team, the French military and Afghanistan are working together by staffing and operating two clinics in Deh Rawod.
“This clinic shows the Afghan people that help is available to them if needed,” said a Civil Affairs medic. “I’ve been working at the clinic since December and, depending on the weather, we’ve generally been seeing 300 to 400 people a week.”
From basic ailments to serious illnesses and injuries, the international medical troops provide the best possible care to a large number of people who would not normally have access to proper medical assistance, added the Civil Affairs medic. Some of the ailments treated at this clinic, as well as the Dutch and French clinics, include body aches, colds, flu, nausea, skin or muscle infections, gastrointestinal reflux disease and kidney infections.
For basic medical treatment, people are seen at this more centralized clinic, said the Civil Affairs medic. For treatment of more serious injuries, such as broken bones, extensive burns and serious illnesses, a nearby clinic operated by the Dutch Provincial Reconstruction Team is consulted.
“Our clinic specializes in eyesight and life and limb saving. Since this past October, we’ve seen approximately 100 people a week,” said Sgt. 1st Class Frank Deboer, a medical nurse for the Dutch Battle group.
In addition to having medical doctors, the Dutch PRT also has female medical staff members who work at both the Dutch and Civil Affairs clinics, said Deboer. Having the females provide care at the clinics helps to bridge a cultural divide in Afghanistan.
“The female nurses are able to provide health care for women in the surrounding areas,” said Sergeant Deboer.
“It is really unique here. Women come here to be treated (unescorted).”
“I fully support our clinic’s mission,” said Private 1st Class Chris Macomber, a medic with the U.S. PMT. “Our being here greatly improves the quality of life for the Afghans in Deh Rawood.”
One recent example of this is a young girl suffering from cerebral palsy.
“The girl was having trouble with her leg brace,” said Sergeant Deboer. “It was causing her great discomfort. We helped provide transportation for the girl’s family to Kandahar, where she was able to have her brace modified and receive specialized shoes to fit her better.”
Another example was a very sick little girl who was brought in and evaluated by medical personnel, said the Civil Affairs medic. She was taken to the Dutch PRT for an additional assessment and medically evacuated to a hospital in Tarin Kowt. The girl was diagnosed with tetanus and received the treatment she needed.
A CJSOTF – A spokesman called the medical care a huge step in the right direction to a peaceful and stable country and added that Coalition Forces are working together to assist the people of Oruzgan, and other communities all over Afghanistan.
CJSOTF is a Special Forces command that partners with Afghan National Security Forces (ANSF) in conducting counter-insurgency operations. Their operations include training ANSF, working with Provincial Reconstruction Teams to rebuild key infrastructure and communities, and providing medical and humanitarian assistance to the Afghan people.
(MsMarti put some parts of this story in bold that she thought were very important for our readers to be aware of.)
Afghanistan International Bank Opens Doors, Economic Opportunities
Mahmood Paindah, Afghanistan International Bank Bagram branch manager, looks over paperwork with Alma Hodzic, the Army and Air Force Exchange Service Frame Shop merchant, Feb. 16, as she opens an account for her shop. Photo by Sgt. Jennifer Premer
Story by Sgt. Jennifer Premer
Date: 02.26.2009
BAGRAM AIR FIELD, Afghanistan - After several months of preparation, Afghanistan International Bank registered its first Bagram branch accounts earlier this month.
A different bank previously occupied the location but closed early last summer. This left the Army and Air Force Exchange Service and bazaar merchants without a place to pay local bills and run payroll for their local-national workers.
Afghanistan International Bank, a well-known private bank, was asked to create a branch on Bagram.
The bank contributes to the safety of those who work alongside coalition forces, said Army 1st Lt. Catherine Vollertsen, 368th Financial Management Company executive officer and a Manhattan, Kan., native.
“If vendors get stopped or robbed on the route home, they won’t lose a week’s worth of earnings, and there is no evidence of them working with the [coalition forces],” said Vollertsen.
The contracts were drawn up by the Joint Logistics Commands’ 28th Financial Management Co., of the Pennsylvania National Guard, which has since redeployed. The 368th Financial Management Company from Wichita, Kan., has taken over.
“AIB has a good reputation,” said Vollertsen. “We’re hoping the word-of-mouth will get out to the Afghans that banks are not bad, which will in turn help the economy.”
Historically, banks around the region have developed poor reputations.
Most government-owned banks do not have banking software, which leads to less secure funds and longer wait times, said Ahmad Zubair Azizi, AIB cashier.
AIB provides good security of funds by using a top security system, banking software, and only establishing branches in safe locations, Azizi continued.
“For an economy to work, it has to have a strong banking system,” said Army Sgt. Maj. Kevin Grosscup, 368th FMC senior financial advisor and a Whitewater, Kan., native.
Grosscup was the bank’s first customer and opened the account as a sign of good faith and to wish the bank future success, he said.
Alma Hodzic, the AAFES Frame Shop merchant who also has an account with AIB, said she is very grateful for the new bank.
“It helps me to pay all of the shop’s bills,” she said.
Additionally, the bank provides jobs to the Afghan people who have shown a strong work ethic.
“The bank employees have agreed to work the longest hours of the week on Friday, which is a sacred day for them,” said Vollertsen. “This shows dedication and commitment to making this work.”
“This is our contribution to the financial infrastructure of Afghanistan,” said Vollertsen.
Afghan women parliamentarians visit NATO
A high-level delegation of women representatives of the Upper and Lower Houses of the Parliament of Afghanistan visited NATO on 23 – 25 February 2009.
This is the second visit of women-only delegation of Afghan Parliamentarians to NATO HQ since 2007 as a continuation of NATO’s efforts to engage women in a constructive dialogue on issues related to the stability, reconstruction and development of Afghanistan.
The event included meetings with the NATO Secretary General, the Assistant Secretary General for Operations, the Deputy Assistant Secretary for Public Diplomacy Strategy as well as other high-level NATO officials and experts, representatives from NATO and Partner countries, and the NATO Parliamentary Assembly. An informal exchange of views with journalists from the Dari/Pashto language services of Radio Free Europe/Radio Europe, BBC and Deutsche Welle was also organised as part of the programme.
The discussions focussed on the overarching principles of NATO’s policies laid out in the Bucharest Summit Declaration and the Public Declaration on ISAF’s Strategic Vision as well as on the multifaceted aspects of NATO’s role in Afghanistan. The friendly atmosphere of a luncheon hosted by Mrs Jeannine de Hoop Scheffer provided a unique opportunity to discuss the role of women in the process of reconstruction and development of Afghanistan as well as to share views on issues related to the education, health care and economic opportunities for Afghan women.
A special panel was dedicated to NATO’s work towards the implementation of the UNSCR 1325 on Women, Peace and Security with the participation of the Chairperson of the Committee on Women in the NATO Forces (CWINF) as well as NATO experts and national representatives of NATO’s Ad Hoc Group on UNSCR 1325 Implementation. A delegation of “Women for Leadership” from Spain also took part in the discussions.
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