Uruzgan, Afghanistan – Members of a U.S. Special Operations cultural support team, along with a coalition female treatment team, met with women from villages in the Shahid-e-Hassas district at a family compound in Oshay village, May 4.
The intent behind the shura was to provide health education to local women and a venue to discuss their issues, said a CST member at the event.
There were 38 women in attendance, some traveled from as far away as Kandahar.
“This was the first shura to incorporate more than one family from the Oshay village, marking a significant milestone for the women of Shahid-e-Hassas district,” said the CST member.
The team also offered classes to the attendees on proper personal hygiene, such as hand washing, nail grooming, laundry, and dental health education.
The women said they were pleased with the outcome and are looking forward to future shuras and medical clinics for women.
“We are happy with today’s shura,” said a local Afghan woman at the shura. “Today should be an outline for future shuras of this kind. We were able to have our voices heard and share our concerns with other women in the village.”