Photo By Capt. Mark Miller | Iraqi army Medic Sgt. Nasser Kadhum Mahub, senior medic of the 1st Battalion, 6th...... read more read more
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By Capt. Mark Miller
1st Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division
FORWARD OPERATING BASE FALCON, Iraq – Lying in bed with extreme, pulsating pain in the right leg and foot – with no pain killers and no end to the suffering in sight. An increasing debt for doctors and surgeries denies the ability to get additional medical attention to end the pain.
The situation described above is not fictitious, but the true story of an Iraqi soldier assigned to the 1st Battalion, 24th Brigade, 6th Iraqi Army Division.
Naser Mahdee Mohamed was injured in 2007 by a grenade blast, which caused injuries to his right leg. He now has swelling in his right foot, circulation problems and numbness that will not go away.
"Since blood is not reaching certain parts of his foot, he is suffering from the effects similar to diabetes and could likely end up having to have his foot amputated," explained Sgt. Brandon Beattie, the U.S. medical advisor to the 1st Bn., 24th Bde., 6th IA Div., attached to the 1st Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, Multi-National Division – Baghdad.
Mahdee endured surgeries on his leg and an additional surgery that consisted of a skin graft on his back.
The four surgeries totaled charges of more than 24 million Iraqi dinar, which is equivalent to approximately $16,000. Although he sold his home and borrowed more than 7 million dinar from friends, Mahdee still cannot pay his debt for the surgeries he already received.
"He is not currently receiving any medication or antibiotics, but should be," said Beattie, a native of Sterling Heights, Mich.
Sgt. Nasser Kadhum Mahub, the senior medic for the Iraqi army battalion, said that Mahdee requires an additional surgery, which will cost approximately three million Iraqi dinar or $2,400.
"He cannot afford this surgery or even pay for the surgeries he has already had," Mahub said.
When asked if this is the situation for all injured Iraqi military personnel, Mahub revealed that although the Iraqi army has the ability to treat injuries, it does not have the resources to treat catastrophic injuries such as the one in this case.
"We currently have 32 personnel with injuries that we are not able to treat in military facilities," Mahub said. "The soldiers are forced to go to civilian medical clinics and pay out of pocket."
Master Sgt. Troy Ross, non-commissioned officer-in-charge of the 1st Bn., 24th Bde., 6th IA Div. Military Transition Team, attached to the 1st BCT, 4th Inf. Div., said that the Iraqis continue to soldier even in the face of the persistent problem.
"They perform their duties selflessly and don't worry about themselves," Ross said. "After issues like this arise though, they always look back to coalition forces for help."
Ross, originally from Newark, N.J., said that without helping the Iraqi army to establish a better care program for their injured service members, it will be a challenge for U.S. forces to transition to a support role.
"[The ISF] continue to come to us with their hands out but are slowly beginning to realize their own ability to solve problems," he explained.
Coalition forces are already taking steps to help Iraqi security forces learn better medical techniques. Soldiers of the 1st BCT, 4th Inf. Div., host a medical course weekly at the Troop Medical Clinic on Forward Operating Base Falcon to train ISF medics on important life-saving techniques, which can also help prevent minor injuries turning into larger problems.
"The IA patrols are now taking medics with them to provide immediate care if somebody is injured," said Capt. Chris Collins, team chief of the 1st Bn., 24th Bde., 6th IA Div. MiTT.
"This is a new practice they have adopted in the last nine months under U.S. advice," Collins said. "The Iraqi army's medical care is not as thorough as what we are accustomed to in the U.S. military. This is why they are forced to go to civilian health care facilities when wounded on duty."
Coalition forces extend assistance to some individuals in need of medical attention as well as continuing to provide training for ISF medical personnel.
Although the issue of medical care for wounded Iraqi soldiers cannot be solved overnight, Iraqi security forces make enduring strides with the assistance of coalition forces to help their wounded warriors.
| Date Taken: | 08.09.2008 |
| Date Posted: | 08.09.2008 04:13 |
| Story ID: | 22301 |
| Location: | BAGHDAD, IQ |
| Web Views: | 117 |
| Downloads: | 100 |
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