Civic Action Team Supports District Doctors

Defend America News ^ | Sgt. James Allen

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Civic Action Team Supports District Doctors

Programs train host nation doctors, nurses, veterinarians and herdsmen.

By U.S. Army Sgt. James Allen
CJTF-HOA Public Affairs

TADJOURA, Djibouti, Feb. 1, 2007 -- The Combined Joint Task Force - Horn of Africa Civic Action Team always performed what is considered “traditional” medical and veterinary civic action programs, but times are changing.

While the goal was to build coalition and host nation relationships during these civic action programs, a system was not in place for host nation doctors and veterinarians to carry on the work when the CAC-T departed. Most of the problems people and animals were having were not acutely treatable, such as asthma, arthritis and malnourishment - chronic issues needing long term management and treatment.

Based on that need, civic action programs are changing focus throughout the CJTF-HOA area of responsibility. In fact, the latest civic action programs in Djibouti, Yemen and Kenya included training and education for host nation doctors, nurses, veterinarians and herdsmen.

According to Lt. Col. Daniel Shoor, Civic Action Team senior officer, the change was necessary.

“It was great being able to make people smile when you gave them care, but in the back of my mind I knew that the next day they were going to be back to the same old broken system,” said Shoor.

“In Yemen, our veterinary team taught future animal caregivers basic diagnosis and treatment skills. Later in the course, it was the students demonstrating the skills they learned on real herds,” said Shoor. “They’re going to be the future of their community.”

District doctors and veterinarians travel with the CAC-T to each of the civic action program sites and run the programs. This allows them to get to know the doctors, nurses, and people of their district and the problems of their patients.

U.S. Army Capt. Gwynne Kinley and Staff Sgt. Meghan Groth vaccinate a sheep during the first day of the first all-female teaching veterinary civil action program in Asma'a, Yemen, Nov. 12, 2006. Over a two-week period, a team of four female soldiers from Kuwait, Bahrain and Djibouti along with Combined Joint Task Force-Horn of Africa and U.S. Agency for International Development taught more than 40 women basic animal care. U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Sarah Stegman

U.S. Army Sgt. 1st Class Charles F. Parnell, assigned to Camp Lemonier, Djibouti, administers medicine and vitamins to villagers, Jan. 24, 2007, in an effort to better control disease in the village of Sagallo. U.S. Air Force photo by Tech. Sgt. Lee Harshman

“At this latest MEDCAP, I listened to the district physician as he empathized and identified with their plight. It was no longer government and citizen … it was two humans sharing,” he said.

The civic action team is also teaching doctors and veterinarians how to build programs like the civic action programs CJTF-HOA performs. These programs are built in two parts. The first part is continuing education, which is critical to staying current on medical issues. The second part is extension services, where the district doctors and veterinarians teach the local doctors, nurses, veterinarians and herdsman the basic skills to maintain patient health.

Shoor said the ultimate goal is to train and educate the doctors, nurses, veterinarians and technicians on preventive medicine, self aid and signs and symptoms of injuries and illnesses. Then the host nation personnel will be able to take the training and teach their local veterinarians, nurses and herdsman.

The benefit to this new approach is it will help people build and maintain relationships with their district doctors and veterinarians, as well as require fewer resources for the basic care and treatment for patients, he said.

The mission of CJTF-HOA is to prevent conflict, promote regional stability and protect Coalition interests in order to prevail against extremism. The CJTF-HOA organization began operations at Camp Lemonier, Djibouti, May 13, 2003. It works with partner nations on humanitarian assistance, disaster relief, consequence management, civic action programs to include medical and veterinary care, school and medical clinic construction and water development projects.