Medical Officer Captain Vanessa Fletcher with a local Doctor, Dr Nadar.
By Captain Vanessa Fletcher
20 February 2008
I had a feeling of elation as the plane touched down, bringing me back for a second winter tour to Afghanistan. It had been two years, but it could have been a week since I'd been here. I knew I'd be back. There have been many changes in the Bamyan Province and development is easier to see over a two year period than the usual 6 month glimpse.
During my handover with Medical Officer, Squadron Leader Nealis, we had the opportunity to visit the hospital. On my previous tour I had taught English there twice a week and visited frequently. I was delighted to find that many of my students were still there and that they remembered me. I was warmly welcomed back and asked if I would take up the lessons again.
The Maternity block that was being constructed last time I was here is now up and running. There’s a new Clinical Records department and a new Surgical Block is being constructed. There’s now a dental service at the hospital and an eye clinic is planned for next year. There are detailed plans for bringing the hospital up to the national standards for Provincial Hospitals.
The roads have improved and I was surprised to drive along a stretch of sealed road. There are new buildings behind Kiwi base, part of an ambitious plan for a new town plan. I’m sure there are more shops in the Bazaar. There is scaffolding in the smaller of the Buddha recesses, where I hear there are plans for restoration. The fish farm that I remember being spoken of is now functioning. There are new Dams and micro-hydro power stations in quite a few villages.
There are almost twice as many clinics here as I remember. I believe this is a credit to the coordination of the Provincial Public Health Director. Clinics are fairly evenly spread throughout the province and provide a range of services through non-government organisations. There are ongoing plans for more clinics and to upgrade existing facilities.
Access to health care is one of the biggest drivers for development. People are still dying here from their health problems, which are compounded by the geography here.
Every bridge and every road built helps to make it easier to get to a clinic, or to move seriously ill people around the province. In some ways, all members of the NZDF here contribute to the health of the locals through their efforts in enabling development.
Development is helping to heal the wounds left by the Taliban. Sometimes we take clinical photos of wounds to monitor the progress as they heal. But for me, coming back is like getting a snapshot of the healing process for a whole province. It’s happening in tangible steps and I feel very optimistic for the future of Bamyan. I’m very proud to have been a part of the good work the NZDF is doing here.
Ends