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http://cnews.canoe.ca/CNEWS/Canada/2006/03/24/1503818-cp.html
Canadian medics aid Afghan village
By MURRAY BREWSTER
GHANI KALACHAH, Afghanistan (CP) - A team of Canadian army medics practised some health-care diplomacy Friday by setting up a temporary clinic in this sun-baked, dirt poor Afghan village.
Guarded by a ring of concertina wire and policed by no-nonsense Romanian troops, the tiny medical contingent was quickly overrun with underfed and often feverish children, the infirm and the elderly.
Cleaning swollen, infected cuts, pulling rotten teeth and handing out Advil were among the treatments dispensed by the medics, some of whom seemed aghast at the grinding poverty in the community of 5,000 homes.
The Canadian physician in charge was under no illusions about the impact of the goodwill gesture.
"It was Band-aid treatment, but in the big picture it'll go a long way to showing that we're here to help as Canadians and as westerners," said navy Lieut. Ian Beck, 43, a former general practitioner from London, Ont.
"We want to help these people have a better life."
Beck, who left his suburban practice just over three years ago to join the army, said Friday's humanitarian mission was one of his most rewarding experiences.
Villagers endeared themselves to Canadian troops a few weeks ago by helping a stranded convoy get one vehicle back on the road. There is no clinic in the community, and sending in the medics for a few hours was the army's way of saying thanks.
Abdul Baqi, 28, arrived with a wheelbarrow full of six fussing children - two of his own and four of his brother's. Each was suffering from diarrhea, likely caused by unsanitary water.
The delicate condition of some of the children brought tears to the eyes of the medical team's clerk, who helped with the logistics.
"He's so light," said Master-Cpl. Elizabeth Churchill, 34, as she cradled a six-month-old who had trouble holding up his head.
"It's like holding nothing. I just want to take him home with me."
Not being a medic, the mother of six, originally from Harbour Grace, N.L., said she felt helpless with so much misery surrounding her.
"The medicine we gave them will only last a couple of weeks and after that it's in God's hands," she said.
The frustration of the Canadians was evident as one medic dealt with a four-year-old boy, who had been brought to the clinic by his 10-year-old brother. As the medic was cleaning an infected gash on the child's leg, he had to instruct the older child how to care for the wound.
A dentist was part of the team, and using a Canada-flag camp chair, she performed several extractions and handed toothbrushes and toothpaste to children who asked for a cleaning.
One boy, who had a single tooth removed, said it had been aching for two years.
Romanian troops - affectionately called Happy Triggers by Canadians for their eagerness to hunt insurgents - organized the unloading of a sea container full of humanitarian supplies as the clinic shut down.
As the convoy roared out of the compound, village elders who had hovered over the cooking pots, diapers, bags of rice and foodstuffs, were left to distribute the goods.
Nic eto see once in awhile.
MM
Canadian medics aid Afghan village
By MURRAY BREWSTER
GHANI KALACHAH, Afghanistan (CP) - A team of Canadian army medics practised some health-care diplomacy Friday by setting up a temporary clinic in this sun-baked, dirt poor Afghan village.
Guarded by a ring of concertina wire and policed by no-nonsense Romanian troops, the tiny medical contingent was quickly overrun with underfed and often feverish children, the infirm and the elderly.
Cleaning swollen, infected cuts, pulling rotten teeth and handing out Advil were among the treatments dispensed by the medics, some of whom seemed aghast at the grinding poverty in the community of 5,000 homes.
The Canadian physician in charge was under no illusions about the impact of the goodwill gesture.
"It was Band-aid treatment, but in the big picture it'll go a long way to showing that we're here to help as Canadians and as westerners," said navy Lieut. Ian Beck, 43, a former general practitioner from London, Ont.
"We want to help these people have a better life."
Beck, who left his suburban practice just over three years ago to join the army, said Friday's humanitarian mission was one of his most rewarding experiences.
Villagers endeared themselves to Canadian troops a few weeks ago by helping a stranded convoy get one vehicle back on the road. There is no clinic in the community, and sending in the medics for a few hours was the army's way of saying thanks.
Abdul Baqi, 28, arrived with a wheelbarrow full of six fussing children - two of his own and four of his brother's. Each was suffering from diarrhea, likely caused by unsanitary water.
The delicate condition of some of the children brought tears to the eyes of the medical team's clerk, who helped with the logistics.
"He's so light," said Master-Cpl. Elizabeth Churchill, 34, as she cradled a six-month-old who had trouble holding up his head.
"It's like holding nothing. I just want to take him home with me."
Not being a medic, the mother of six, originally from Harbour Grace, N.L., said she felt helpless with so much misery surrounding her.
"The medicine we gave them will only last a couple of weeks and after that it's in God's hands," she said.
The frustration of the Canadians was evident as one medic dealt with a four-year-old boy, who had been brought to the clinic by his 10-year-old brother. As the medic was cleaning an infected gash on the child's leg, he had to instruct the older child how to care for the wound.
A dentist was part of the team, and using a Canada-flag camp chair, she performed several extractions and handed toothbrushes and toothpaste to children who asked for a cleaning.
One boy, who had a single tooth removed, said it had been aching for two years.
Romanian troops - affectionately called Happy Triggers by Canadians for their eagerness to hunt insurgents - organized the unloading of a sea container full of humanitarian supplies as the clinic shut down.
As the convoy roared out of the compound, village elders who had hovered over the cooking pots, diapers, bags of rice and foodstuffs, were left to distribute the goods.
Nic eto see once in awhile.
MM
