Humanitarian Assistance Lessons Learned From Providing Acute Medical Care for Afghan Nationals on a U.S. Military Base

Author:

Koch Eric J1ORCID,Lopachin Tyler2,Fayos Zane1,Lynch Timothy1,Korduba Adrian1,Barry Michael3

Affiliation:

1. Emergency Medicine, 2nd Medical Battalion, 2nd Marine Logistics Group, II Marine Expeditionary Force , Camp Lejeune, NC 28542, USA

2. Emergency Medicine, 3d Medical Battalion, 3d Marine Logistics Group, III Marine Expeditionary Force , Okinawa, Japan

3. Group Surgeon, 2nd Marine Logistics Group, II Marine Expeditionary Force , Camp Lejeune, NC 28542, USA

Abstract

ABSTRACT Operation Allies Welcome provided a unique opportunity for military medical personnel to engage in humanitarian assistance operations on military bases in the USA. With thousands of Afghan nationals evacuated from Kabul in August 2021 to various military installations across the USA, the Military Health System was tasked with health screening, emergency care, and disease prevention and surveillance in resource-limited settings. Marine Corps Base Quantico served as a “safe haven” site from August to December 2021, providing refuge to nearly 5000 travelers awaiting resettlement. During this time, active duty medical personnel provided 10,122 primary and acute patient encounters to patients aged < 1 to 90 years. Pediatrics represented 44% of the total encounters and children aged less than 5 years represented nearly 62% of the pediatric visits. In caring for this population, the authors were able to learn important lessons about humanitarian assistance capabilities, the difficulties of establishing acute care centers in a resource-limited environment, and the importance of cultural competency. Recommendations include staffing with medical providers that can see a large volume of pediatric, obstetrics, and urgent care visits, with less emphasis on trauma and surgical capabilities, which are the more traditional focus of military medicine. To this end, the authors advocate for the creation of specific humanitarian assistance supply blocks that would focus more on urgent and primary care treatments as well as an ample supply of pediatric, neonatal, and prenatal medicines. Further, early engagement with telecommunications companies when practicing in a remote location can be crucial to mission success. Finally, the medical care team should maintain continued mindfulness of the cultural norms of the population to which aid is given, particularly the gender norms and expectations of Afghan nationals. The authors hope that these lessons can prove informative and may provide increased readiness for future humanitarian assistance missions.

Publisher

Oxford University Press (OUP)

Subject

Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health,General Medicine

Reference8 articles.

1. Memorandum on the Designation of the Department of Homeland Security as Lead Federal Department for Facilitating the Entry of Vulnerable Afghans into the United States;The White House

2. Operation Allies Welcome;Department of Homeland Security

3. Operation Allies Welcome announces departure of last Afghan Nationals from Marine Corps Base Quantico, Virginia;Department of Homeland Security

4. Review of humanitarian guidelines to ensure the health and well-being of Afghan Refugees on U.S. Military Bases;Lieberman Lawry;Mil Med,2022

5. Needs Assessment for Refugee Emergencies (NARE) checklist version 1.0;United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees

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