Iraqi Army field medic Sabah prepares to take the blood pressure of an Iraqi National Police officer. Photos by U.S. Navy Journalist 2nd Class John J. Pistone.BAGHDAD — Life in Iraq is often without conveniences western cultures can take for granted. Even a simple visit to the doctor’s office for treatment or medicine can be an arduous task.


Wednesday, 18 October 2006
By U.S. Navy Journalist 2nd Class John J. Pistone
MNSTC-I Public Affairs

For Iraqi policemen, making that trip can be even more painstaking because of the particular dangers and security threats associated with their jobs.

Iraqi Army field medics, along with Coalition doctors, are now making house calls to Iraqi National Police units to alleviate some of these extra risks.

“It is no secret that our police need proper healthcare,” Sabah said with the help of an interpreter. “An officer needs to know if they get shot, injured or simply sick, that there are people ready to take care of them.”

For Malid, it’s more than just a job.

“We do this because we want to help the Iraqi Police and the Iraqi people,” he said through an interpreter. “We deal equally with all patients, it does not matter if you are Sunni, Shia or Kurd. If you need help, we will treat you the same.”

Both medics are in the Iraqi Army and studying to become doctors. At present, they are primarily responsible for checking patients’ vital signs and performing minor surgeries, but according to their Coalition mentors, they will take over more responsibilities over the next few months.

Malid and Sabah travel throughout Baghdad with the Coalition doctors, to conduct such check-ups on the police. They will soon become permanent staff members at a new medical facility in the Dora area of Baghdad. The facility, which is currently under construction, is designed to be a trauma center for police and Iraqi soldiers who work in the area.

Both medics and their Coalition advisors agree that they bring more than just medicine to their fellow police and soldiers.

“Most police and soldiers spend months away from their families and are afraid to tell them what they are doing because the insurgents would kill them,” Sabah said. “They need to see fellow Iraqis helping and supporting them; this helps them feel like they are not alone in their fight against those who want to destroy our new government. This is more important than medicine.”

Iraqi Army medic Malid takes the blood pressure of an Iraqi National Police officer. Photos by U.S. Navy Journalist 2nd Class John J. Pistone.Sabah and Malid are two such field medics, and regularly visit the policemen to ensure their healthcare needs are met and that they can remain on the job.