B*N*S*N3

RAF help provide medical care for Afghan villagers

A Military Operations news article

23 Jun 10

RAF personnel, alongside other ISAF troops, have recently treated several Afghan nationals at the most successful village medical outreach event held to date for the local community near Camp Bastion.

Corporals Faye Stinton (left) and Becky Lockhead, Royal Air Force Police, accompany local females to the village medical outreach clinic
[Picture: Squadron Leader Neville Clayton, Crown Copyright/MOD 2010]

The visit was led by the 3rd Low Altitude Air Defense Battalion, United States Marine Corps (USMC), but also comprised RAF Police and RAF Regiment personnel and elements of the Afghan National Army (ANA) and Danish medical personnel.

Members of 1 Squadron RAF Regiment, normally based at RAF Honington, provided the inner security cordon for the event whilst the United States Marine Corps provided the outer cordon.

The ANA also provided a medic and search capability under the mentorship of the Danish Operational Mentoring and Liaison Team.

Female RAF Police personnel were used to supplement the Female Engagement Team (FET) that aims to engage direct with local female nationals.

Having previously engaged with local elders at a shura, permission was granted by the elders to enter the compounds and treat women and children.

A United States Marine Corps doctor accompanied the FET and treated 13 females, two males and 23 children within their compounds.

Corporals Faye Stinton (left) and Becky Lockhead chat to local children waiting for medical attention at the village medical outreach clinic
[Picture: Squadron Leader Neville Clayton, Crown Copyright/MOD 2010]

The male engagement was also highly successful, with 33 males and ten children being treated. A key aspect of the village medical outreach programme is providing direct medical aid to the local population.

Flight Lieutenant Steve Carroll met with local elders and chatted through some of the problems facing them. He said:

"These types of outreach programmes are crucial in gaining the trust and respect of the local population. The key to success is undertaking them on their terms and we work hard to improve our relationship with them....

(More here.)