“Our pledge is to continue to serve side-by-side with our national and international partners to promote security, stability and peace in Africa, and of course in Swaziland,” Garrett said. “MEDFLAG 09 has been an important demonstration of our commitment to our African and partnered nations.”
The exercise included the Umbutfo Swaziland Defence Force, the Swaziland Ministry of Health, U.S. Army Africa and U.S. Africa Command.
Swazi medical staff got firsthand tips from U.S. medical officers. Meanwhile, the U.S. troops learned how to overcome the challenges to offering healthcare in rural African villages, Garrett said.
At a medical professional exchange, a dozen Swazi military and civilian medics took part in a seminar with U.S. medical officers – sharing ideas that build capacity to work together in the future. Through “first responder” mentoring, 25 Swazi medics from the USDF and the health ministry gained important tools that can help them in a crisis.
Overall, 16 Swazi medics, both military and civilians, took part in joint medical missions in local communities that helped Swazi people in need.
“Our Soldiers learned important lessons about how to operate in Africa, while the Swazi medical staff increased their capabilities through our interaction,” Garrett said. “As an added benefit, the people of Swaziland received quality care from this partnership effort.”
During the two-week exercise, roughly 2,400 medical and dental treatments were performed during visits to Swazi villages. At veterinary clinics, nearly 10,500 animals received treatment.
While in Swaziland, Garrett visited the joint U.S.-Swazi medical teams and spoke at the closing ceremony, held Aug. 14 at USDF headquarters.
“American and Swazi medics worked side-by-side to improve our readiness and enhance our ability to work together in combined medical operations,” Garrett said.
U.S. and Swazi teams carried out six veterinary civil assistance projects (VETCAPs), including a two-day visit to Hhohho Village in Zinyane Province, one-day at Shiselweni Village in Mkhwakhweni Province, one day at Manzini Village in Matufseni Province and a two-day visit in Lubombo Village in Maloma Province. During the VETCAPs, the veterinary team treated 6,792 cattle, 3,381 goats, 195 sheep, 195 dogs, one horse and one pig.
They also operated and successfully removed a benign tumor growing on the throat of a cow on the first day of VETCAPs.
“It was an unexpected surprise,” said U.S. Army Maj. Michael Simpson, of the Fort Dix, New Jersey-based 404th Civil Affairs Battalion, who was leading veterinary efforts during MEDFLAG 09. “Even though the tumor was benign it was near the throat. If it continued growing, it would have cut off the cow’s air passage and it would have suffocated.”
As the U.S. and Swazi veterinary teams treated the Swaziland livestock, medical and dental teams treated the local villagers.
The medical teams, which consisted of members from the 212th Combat Support Hospital, the U.S. Army Center for Health and Preventive Medicine and the 21st Sustainment Command, treated 1,519 patients during the six medical civil assistance projects (MEDCAPs).
“We saw patients who had everything from the basic cold to an elderly woman who had a goiter,” said 2nd Lt. Matthew McCreery, MEDFLAG 09’s executive officer.
The dental team, which consisted of members from the 920th Aeromedical Staging Squadron, Patrick AFB, Fla.; 59th Medical Wing, Wilford Medical Hall, Texas; and 212th CSH, treated 262 patients and extracted 273 teeth during the six dental civil assistance projects (DENCAPs).
“We were able to gain the trust of the Swazi villagers,” said Air Force Col. Dean Whitman, oral and maxillofacial surgeon. “Conducting these sorts of missions is important so the Swazis know we have good intentions and our primary concern is to help.”
During MEDFLAG 09, both U.S. and Swazi personnel conducted classes on disaster medical planning and operations, a mass casualty exercise and humanitarian and civic outreach to local communities. Classes included first responder familiarization, disaster relief, preventive medicine and tropical medicine.
“The health of the Swazi people and their livestock is clearly very important,” said U.S. Army Lt. Col. Michael Money, co-director of MEDFLAG 09. “It is our distinct privilege to have worked side-by-side with our new found friends from the USDF and the Ministry of Health, to deliver medical and veterinary care in all four regions of this beautiful land.”
Cleared for public release.
Photos by Air Force Staff Sgt. Lesley Waters. CJTF-HOA Public Affairs
PHOTO CAPTION: A member of a local drama group performs health education skits to villagers of Lubombo during the second of a two-day combined medical and dental civil assistance project (MEDCAP and DENCAP) as part of exercise MEDFLAG 09 in Lubombo Village, Swaziland on Aug. 13
The images are generally considered in the public domain. Request that credit be given to the U.S. Army and individual photographer.
There are many types of anti-anxiety drugs in the market today, similar to the infinite number of pain relievers that dorn the shelves of many drug stores across the country. This might be better explained by the fact that no single medication can effectively work in every patient, humans are unique and have unique needs in terms of what responds best to their respective conditions. Just imagine a situation where the best medication for anxiety are required, you might often find this becoming a trial and error game to most patients. Doctors can never be 100% confident that the type of drug administered or the first dose given will result to the desired effect. With this in mind, it becomes quite difficult to say with certainity, what the best anxiety medications really are.
Its common for doctors to prescribe the two major class of medications for anxiety treatment. The ideal type of anxiety medication will mostly be a combination involving two or more anti-anxiety drugs and anti-depressants. These combined effort of two drugs works wonders in alleviating both immediate and long term symptoms. The concoction is therefore very effective in both short and long term use.
It might be worth to note that, while every effort is made by doctors in seeking out perfect remedies for anxiety, patients on their side can help a great deal if they adhere to a few basic things. Some of these measure will actively involves patients in their treament, and are as follows:
1. Creating time to read and understand the medication. Not even the best anxiety medication can work properly if incorrectly taken. It’s therefore essential for patients to be familiar with what they are taking, the duration of the medication, how it works and the time it takes to activate, because, while some medications produce an instant impact, others take time to show visible indication of recovery in patients using them. Having this information beforehand can greatly help patients accurately gauge the effectiveness of the prescription.
2. Dosage understanding. For the case of anti-depresants, its essential to take the medication as prescribed. This may include sticking to the dose amount as directed and also keeping the proper times of day to use the medicine.
3. Reporting complications. Most good anxiety medications do come with a multitude of potential side effects and precautions. It’s therefore important for patients using this medications to report any reservations they may have and side effects, this also involves medications that don’t seem to work as required.
4. Drug contradictions. It’s worth noting that some best types of anxiety medication may not combine well with other medications including herbal preparations and even food. This knowledge is vital to patients and will help them avoid potential contradictions in the course of their medication.
Most excellent anxiety medications are well equipped to enable patients of anxiety disorder deal with the symptoms that may prove bothersome. Setting about to find the best medication is largely a matter of personal circumstance and specific symptoms. It may involve some trial and error in the process, so fortitude is always a plus factor.
