Medics with the Air Force-led Provincial Reconstruction Team Qalat treated nearly 200 Afghan patients last week, during an outreach in the remote region of Zabul Province. The Pentagon’s new term for these type activities is village medical outreach. Besides assessing health of the local villagers and dispensing routine medical supplies, such as eye drops and cough syrup, the VMO also mentored Afghan nurses at the local clinic, reports Capt. Bob Everdeen. The VMO organizers also brought toys for the children. “The kids really like small toys like hacky sacks, Matchbox or Hot Wheels cars and even pens, pencils and paper,” said Maj. Debra Roberts, a PRT Qalat medical officer from Hill AFB, Utah. “We get donations of these items from friends, families and organizations back in the states, but could always use more.”
Airmen and Guardians in the Active and Reserve component, as well as civilian employees, in “mission critical and high-risk populations” are now required to receive influenza vaccinations annually to “preserve force readiness,” according to a recent Department of the Air Force memo.