August 16, 2006
SR# 081606-141
by Pfc. Paul J. Harris
3rd Heavy Brigade Combat Team,
4th Infantry Division Public Affairs Office
TAHRIR, Iraq (August 15, 2006) -- With tears welling up, a little Iraqi girl reacts to receiving a shot from a coalition forces medic that will clear-up her upper respiratory infection. While pain is minimal, the after effects will provide her with a more healthy start in her young life.
The little girl's medical treatment was courtesy of the Soldiers from 4th Battalion, 2nd Brigade, 5th Iraqi Army Division and Soldiers from 1-68 Combined Arms Battalion, 3rd Heavy Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, Task Force Band of Brothers, who jointly conducted a Medical Civil Action Project in the town of Tahrir; a town that is not used to readily available medical care.
A building in the town had been converted into a waiting room, pharmacy and doctor's offices where one Iraqi doctor, Capt. Farhan, from 2nd Brigade, 5th Iraqi Army Division and one American Maj. Jeremy Beauchamp, battalion surgeon, 1-68 CAB, prepared to see patients.
Word of the MEDCAP was broadcast over Humvee loudspeakers that joint forces were ready to see patients; then the people began to pour in from the surrounding streets.
"It's one way to make the Iraqi people see the Iraqi Army and the U.S. as good people," said 1st Lt. Edmond Jackson, operations officer for the Military Transition Team, 1-68 CAB, about the MEDCAP.
Often the local people hear information about coalition forces and the Iraqi Army that has been distorted by the enemy, Jackson said as he was about to be overrun by a squad of six year-olds who desperately wanted the Beanie Babies in his hands. While the medics were treating Iraqis, Jackson and his Soldiers were handing out toys, pencils and notebooks to the children.
One Iraqi father bought his little boy to be examined who had been shot by an AK-47 and still had the bullet lodged in his head. An old x-ray his father brought with him showed the bullet had barely missed his spinal cord. Surprisingly, the boy had little complications from the bullet, but he will eventually need surgery.
"It is disheartening," said Spc. Kimberly Smoot, a healthcare specialist with Company C, 64th Brigade Support Battalion on loan to 1-68 CAB for the mission. "There is not a whole lot we can do for something that would be easy to fix in America (yet) would be impossible here."
Smoot referred the man to Baghdad General Hospital and said she wished she could take every severe patient she saw back to the U.S. with her, but knew that would be impractical.
Part of the reason for the MEDCAP exercise was to get the Iraqi people comfortable with coming to a clinic that will eventually be run by their own government.
One Iraqi man who came to the MEDCAP to seek treatment for an ulcer was glad to see an Iraqi doctor present. The man said through an interpreter he felt more comfortable seeing an Iraqi because he is from the same country, speaks the same language and knows more about the common issues he might have. Though he pointed out he was happy with the U.S. involvement with the Iraqi Army because he felt it has made the Iraqi Army stronger.
Capt. Farhan said the majority of medical issues locals face is due to the lack of iron (mineral) incorporated in their daily diet. He made a point to give out the pink iron supplement pills with almost every case he saw.
Three or so hours later, with the last patient of the day seen, Beauchamp was happy with the way the MEDCAP had turned out.
"(The MEDCAP) shows people a different side to the American and the Iraqi Army; instead of riding down the street in their armored vehicles and their guns pointing outwards. It fosters good will between all of us," Beauchamp said. "We are here on the ground with smiles - there is more of a personal face to both the Americans and the Iraqi Army."
Photos (click for larger versions):
(right click image, then "Save as")
Stumble It!
