Delivering Medical supplies to Balad Central Hospital

Courtesy Photo | AL DALIUYA, Iraq (March 30, 2006) -- Sergeant 1st Class Dennis Mitchell (left) helps Iraqi hospital workers offload medical supplies donated by Coalition forces. An engineer, he serves as task force claims officer for 1st Battalion, 8th Infantry Regiment (Mechanized). (Photo by Spc. Lee Elder, 133d Mobile Public Affairs Detachment)  

BALAD, IRAQ

04.14.2006

Story by Staff Sgt. Miles Elder 

133rd Mobile Public Affairs Detachment

Spc. Lee Elder
133rd Mobile Public Affairs Detachment

BALAD, Iraq (March 29, 2006) - U.S. forces delivered much-needed hospital supplies to a local hospital that serves more than 200,000 Iraqis.

The supplies were obtained by Army Reserve Soldiers from Company C, 445th Civil Affairs Battalion. They were escorted to Balad Central Hospital by Soldiers based at nearby Forward Operating Base Paliwoda from 1st Battalion, 8th Infantry Regiment (Mechanized), 3rd Heavy Brigade Combat Team, Task Force Band of Brothers.

The Soldiers and supplies were both received with open arms by the hospital staff. Many of the items were in critical supply at the hospital.

"These are important supplies for our hospital because there are some deficiencies in our supply system," said Qusim Hatam Al Kuisy, director of Balad General Hospital. "We need medicine, bags for blood and some instruments.

"With your help, you help us to complete our job."

The 150-bed hospital is a key local facility, Al Kuisy said. It treats 800 outpatients each day and has 30 to 50 inpatients daily.

Besides serving the people of Balad, it has patients coming from as far away as Samarra. It offers most types of surgery as well as other patient care.

"Every patient who needs operation in this area comes to our hospital," Al Kuisy said.

Patients who have injuries or illness beyond the hospital's level of care often have to be sent to Baghdad or Tikrit, Al Kuisy said. This is difficult due to the dangers that lie on Iraq's highways.

Coordinating the Coalition effort was Sgt. Jennifer Smith, an Army Reservist with Company C who hails from Montesano, Wash. She is currently a student Evergreen State University in Olympia.

Smith worked with area troop medical clinics and combat surgical hospitals to obtain spare supplies for the hospital. This need became evident when Iraqi nationals were injured in an incident involving an improvised-explosive device and the hospital was lacking many of the key supplies to treat the wounded.

"They have a difficult time getting supplies from the government," Smith said. "Most of their supplies come from Baghdad and they haven't gotten sent to many of the smaller hospitals."

As the convoy pulled up to the hospital's gates, Al Kuisy quickly dispatched his orderlies to meet the vehicles. The supplies were quickly off loaded with Soldiers and hospital workers working in tandem.

Key supplies included crutches, breathing tubes and blood bags, Smith said. They were among the items identified as in critical supply at the hospital.

"We thank you," Al Kuisy said. "You are our colleagues and you keep continuous contact with us.

"It's very important to our hospital and our patients to complete our jobs."

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• Date Taken: 04.14.2006
• Date Posted: 04.14.2006 12:46
• Story ID: 6034
• Location: BALAD, IQ