Command Provides Ambulances for Afghan Police Medics

American Forces Press Service

Jan. 13, 2009 - Sick and injured Afghans will get treatment faster thanks to a coalition command's donation of ambulances. Servicemembers deployed to the Combined Security Transition Command- Afghanistan command surgeon's office provided seven modified urban ambulances to the Afghan National Police office of the surgeon general Jan. 3.

Afghanistan has no pre-existing concept of police forces, and ensuring medical treatment is a critical mission, ANP Surgeon General Brig. Gen. Qandahar said.

"The [medical] situation in Afghanistan is critical," he said. "These ambulances will help us transport patients quicker in order to save more lives."

The ambulances distributed throughout the Kabul region are configured to carry two litter patients, six ambulatory patients, or one litter patient with one to three ambulatory patients, allowing for a more expedient and effective medical care system.

The ambulances give the Afghan National Police hospital, police academy and central training center and Shamshod clinic, along with the Afghan border police clinic, reliable transportation for patients.

Air Force Maj. David Andrews, senior Afghan National Police medical advisor for Combined Security Transition Command Afghanistan, said this is just the beginning.

"This is where the rubber hits the road," he said. "We have to keep pushing forward with better training, more people and getting out in the field."

In addition to the seven urban ambulances, 283 tactical ambulances designed for rough-terrain emergency medical evacuation are scheduled to be delivered early this year.