Women learn simple techniques, potential for huge impact by Sgt. Katryn McCalment
MAZAR-E SHARIF, Afghanistan – More than 50 women raise their hands; some are colored red by henna, some have brightly painted nails and rings of shiny metals and glittering stones decorating almost every finger.
“How many have seen a breech,” asked Command Sgt. Maj. Michelle Fournier, a medical mentor for Afghan nurses with 404th Civil Affairs Battalion.
Fournier, along with five other female doctors, medics and nurses are teaching courses during the five-day regional medical seminar held in Mazar-e Sharif Feb. 20-24, hosted by the Ministry of Public Health and Special Operations Task Force - East.
The seminar broke the 200 participants from nine eastern and northern provinces into four groups: medical doctors, midwives and nurses, paramilitary personnel, and local nationals. But, Fournier believes that the midwives and nurses have the most potential to make a significant difference.
“They are the only ones allowed to treat other women,” said Fournier. “The future of Afghanistan depends on healthy women and children.”
And the women are eager to learn.
Sideka, a reproductive officer for a non-government organization at the Taloqan district center, Takhar province, traveled for eight hours to attend the seminar.
“We have a lot of knowledge,” said Sideka. “But, through these classes we always learn more.”
Interpreter and doctor Aisha Daley, who works as an OB/GYN at the Korean Hospital on Bagram Air Field, uses volunteers to teach the proper techniques for a breast exam.
“Most of these women have never been taught how to do a breast exam,” said Daley. “Even the doctors, they ask me to show them again.”
The women stand around a makeshift exam table and are able to closely observe and ask questions of the doctor.
“The arm on the side you are examining should be put behind the head,” said Daley, showing three different techniques on the volunteer. “And, you must also feel the lymph nodes in the armpits, not just in the breast.”
During the class, two women described cases they had seen that were improperly handled or treated. They said they were now more confident in their abilities to correctly handle possible breast cancer cases.
Other classes throughout the day included delivery and post-delivery complications, pediatric medicine, nursing care, and preventative medicine.
“Today I learned how to treat a shoulder presentation [where a baby enters the birth canal shoulder first],” said Sideka. “Now, I know how to treat it and I can go back and teach others.”
Aorela, a 25-year-old midwife from Jowzjan province agrees that passing along the knowledge is the most important aspect of the seminar.
“There are a lot of midwives that can’t travel to these classes,” she said. “We have to put the mothers first and teach each other what we know.”
“We are teaching the women to teach,” said Fournier. “To pass the knowledge on.”
The Ministry of Public Health not only invited midwives and nurses from throughout the nine provinces, they also selected women from remote districts, attempting to reach as far out into the rural areas as possible.
“These 50 women have the potential to reach thousands,” said Daley.
The class ends for the day and the women gather around the instructors asking questions about cases they’ve seen. The teachers bounce between the women trying to answer each question thoroughly.
As women are satisfied with the answers, about a third of the women put on their long, blue burkas before exiting the building, covering themselves from head to toe. Others from less conservative areas wear brightly colored headscarves as they leave talking about the things they’ve learned.
Sideka smiles and waves goodbye. “These seminars are good,” she says as she nods approvingly. “If there are more, I will come.”
“They are the only ones allowed to treat other women,” said Fournier. “The future of Afghanistan depends on healthy women and children.”
And the women are eager to learn.
Sideka, a reproductive officer for a non-government organization at the Taloqan district center, Takhar province, traveled for eight hours to attend the seminar.
“We have a lot of knowledge,” said Sideka. “But, through these classes we always learn more.”
Interpreter and doctor Aisha Daley, who works as an OB/GYN at the Korean Hospital on Bagram Air Field, uses volunteers to teach the proper techniques for a breast exam.
“Most of these women have never been taught how to do a breast exam,” said Daley. “Even the doctors, they ask me to show them again.”
The women stand around a makeshift exam table and are able to closely observe and ask questions of the doctor.
“The arm on the side you are examining should be put behind the head,” said Daley, showing three different techniques on the volunteer. “And, you must also feel the lymph nodes in the armpits, not just in the breast.”
During the class, two women described cases they had seen that were improperly handled or treated. They said they were now more confident in their abilities to correctly handle possible breast cancer cases.
Other classes throughout the day included delivery and post-delivery complications, pediatric medicine, nursing care, and preventative medicine.
“Today I learned how to treat a shoulder presentation [where a baby enters the birth canal shoulder first],” said Sideka. “Now, I know how to treat it and I can go back and teach others.”
Aorela, a 25-year-old midwife from Jowzjan province agrees that passing along the knowledge is the most important aspect of the seminar.
“There are a lot of midwives that can’t travel to these classes,” she said. “We have to put the mothers first and teach each other what we know.”
“We are teaching the women to teach,” said Fournier. “To pass the knowledge on.”
The Ministry of Public Health not only invited midwives and nurses from throughout the nine provinces, they also selected women from remote districts, attempting to reach as far out into the rural areas as possible.
“These 50 women have the potential to reach thousands,” said Daley.
The class ends for the day and the women gather around the instructors asking questions about cases they’ve seen. The teachers bounce between the women trying to answer each question thoroughly.
As women are satisfied with the answers, about a third of the women put on their long, blue burkas before exiting the building, covering themselves from head to toe. Others from less conservative areas wear brightly colored headscarves as they leave talking about the things they’ve learned.
Sideka smiles and waves goodbye. “These seminars are good,” she says as she nods approvingly. “If there are more, I will come.”
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