Macedonians help locals with medical mission

Photo By Spc. Cal Turner | 1st Lt. Saibatu Mansaray, physican's assistant, Company C, 4th Support Battalion, 1st Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, talks to a local national through a translator about her sick child at a medical operation in the Gumyria, Iraq, region on May 10. More than 200 people came to the operation at a local school to receive treatment.  

TAJI, IRAQ

05.22.2006

Story by Spc. Cal Turner 

4th Infantry Division Public Affairs Office

CAMP TAJI, Iraq " The Macedonian Ranger Platoon, attached to Multi-National Division " Baghdad's 1st Battalion, 66th Armor Regiment, 1st Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, held a medical mission May 10 for community residents at a local school in Gumyria.

In order to provide medical care to the local residents within their area of operation, the Macedonian Rangers sponsored their second medical mission at the Al Falah School with the support of 1-66 AR.

"We did one before in a different village," said Capt. Dragam Maksimovski, executive officer, MRP. "It went well. We talked to the people here and they said they needed medicine. So we talked to intel and operations at 1-66 AR, and they said "no problem" and to tell them when and where."

The Macedonians linked up with the Special Troops Company, 1st Brigade, 9th Iraqi Army Division, to provide additional security for the operation.

The medical mission was conducted at the Al Falah Primary School, which is the name of the school's morning shift, while the afternoon shift is known as Mawrdi Primary School. More than 550 students from the community attend the school.

The medical personnel were on site treating many various ailments including, 'tooth aches, infections, colds, rashes, asthma, and anemia, but not too many drastic injuries," said 2nd Lt. Stephen Sarnocinski, medical platoon leader, Headquarters, Headquarters Detachment, 1-66 AR.

Officials at the school also received help from the community and appreciated the medical help from Coalition Forces.

"God willing this will help the community," said Khluad Majeed, school headmistress. "Our main problem here is water and electricity, but I like seeing the Iraqi army here searching the area and keeping people safe."

More than 200 people received help during the event.

"It went well; it was a good day," said 1st Lt. Saibatu Mansaray, physician's assistant, Company C, 4th Support Battalion, 1st BCT.

The MRP works with translators that are crucial to their missions.

"We have a translator who speaks Arabic and Macedonian, so that helps a lot, especially when we don't have an English-to-Arabic translator," said Maksimovski. "There's five or six of us that speak English, and we also learn some Arabic phrases here and there from the Iraqis we work with."

Iraqi soldiers at the event said helping the community members made them feel good about the mission.

"These people don't have good medical care. This is a good opportunity to see that we care about them," said Lt. Khalid Mohammed, squad leader, STC, 1st Bde., 9th IAD.

This is the last medical mission to be conducted by this Macedonian platoon in Iraq. This unit plans to redeploy soon and be replaced by another unit from that country.

• Date Taken: 05.22.2006
• Date Posted: 05.22.2006 12:31
• Story ID: 6460
• Location: TAJI, IQ