Nuristan PRT Female Engagement Team holds MEDCAP for children

NURISTAN PROVINCE, Afghanistan – Nuristan Provincial Reconstruction Team Female Engagement Team visited a remote village in the area of eastern Nuristan province, Afghanistan, and held a child medical civic action program, Jan. 16-17.

Four female Servicemembers from the PRT offered medical care and personal hygiene training.

U.S. Navy Lt. Jennifer Dreiling, PRT senior medical officer and doctor, provided medical treatment to over 50 children. Most children had common cold symptoms, body aches, skin rashes, and gastrointestinal complaints. 

“I think it was very successful. It was nice to treat children for once, we don’t see that population very often,” the native of McClean, Va., said.

One little girl came to the MEDCAP to receive a referral for her arm, which was severely burned when she was young. The scar tissue on the burn was preventing her from moving her arm. Dreiling referred her to Indira Ghandi children’s hospital, which will treat children and give family members a place to stay for free.

The young girl’s brother said he had heard the announcement of the MEDCAP on the radio station. He knew she needed special treatment and brought her in.

Another part of the MEDCAP was personal hygiene lessons. The classes taught the children how to brush their teeth, tips when they have a sore throat, and the importance of washing their hands.

U.S. Navy Petty Officer 1st Class Kathleen Leach, operations specialist and native of Smithfield, R.I., taught the personal hygiene classes to the boys, while another member of the team taught the girls class.

“This was the most rewarding mission I’ve done. I feel like we positively affected the local populace and it was nice to teach the children health and sanitation,” said Leach. “We were able to give back to the community.”

The female engagement team plans to do many more missions for young girls and women.