Medical Aid provided to Iraqi families

Photo By Spc. Courtney Marulli | Spc. Shandi Slyder, a native of Alamogordo, N.M., and a medic with Company C, 2nd Brigade Support Battalion, 2nd Infantry Brigade Combat Team, looks in an Iraqi girl's mouth to see the level of inflammation of her throat and tonsils Oct. 19 in the New Baghdad District of eastern Baghdad.  

FORWARD OPERATING BASE COBRA, IRAQ

10.25.2007

Story by Spc. Courtney Marulli 

2nd Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 2nd Infantry Division

By Spc. Courtney E. Marulli
2nd IBCT, 2nd Inf. Div. Public Affairs

COMBAT OUTPOST COBRA, Iraq — Many residents of the New Baghdad District of eastern Baghdad are too poor to afford medical care, and often it's too risky to try and get to the nearest clinic.

The New Baghdad District Council members teamed up with Soldiers of Company C, 1st Battalion, 8th Cavalry, attached to 2nd Infantry Brigade Combat Team, to ensure local residents were seen by physicians and given medicine in a medical operation Oct. 19 - 20.

Capt. Miguel A. Juarez of Brownville, Texas, commander of Company C, 1st Battalion, 8th Cavalry, said both days went well, and that most of those receiving treatment were Sunni even though it was in a Shia area.

Giving care through the clinic in Shuada North, was a way to show people Coalition Forces are here to help, Juarez said. "This is just one thing we're doing here to gain their trust," he said.

On both days, adults and children lined up outside and anxiously awaited to be seen by a Coalition Forces physician. The Iraqi Police kept the crowds in order along with Soldiers in 1st Battalion, 8th Cavalry Regiment.

Even though some Iraqis and their children had serious illnesses that could not be treated on site, most people that came through received medicines and education on how to improve their health. Those who had advanced illnesses were given medicine for pain and advised to go to the nearest hospital.

1st Lt. Jamison E. Gaddy, a physician assistant for 1st Battalion, 8th Cavalry, said the goal of a medical operation like this is to give care, or to assist the local providers in giving care to the population.

Everyone was pleased with the outcome and how smoothly the operation ran, Gaddy said.
Gaddy, a native of Camden, Del., said more than 100 people were treated at the school. "It's a good experience, a positive experience, but at the same time you see how poor the local community is," he said.

Some of the patients Gaddy saw had illnesses that could not be treated on site such as brain tumors, congestive heart failure, end-stage cancer and even diabetes and hypertension.

"Those are the tough ones to see," he said. "It's really tough here because they can't afford treatment, or there are limited treatments."

Aside from the incurable ailments, the majority of patients complained of throat pain, nose bleeds and bleeding teeth, which Gaddy said stems from the dry environment. The local populace was given toothbrushes and toothpaste and was educated on how to properly take care of their dental hygiene.

There were also a number of ear infections, mostly in children. Fevers and upper respiratory infections were also common and the men tended to have gastrointestinal issues.

Pfc. Rebecca Anderson, a medic with Company C, 2nd Brigade Support Battalion, 2nd IBCT, was on site both days to administer help to the physicians and to improve her own medical knowledge.
Anderson, a native of Crewe, Va., said she loves to help children and found great joy in easing their pain or bringing a smile to their face when she handed them a stuffed toy after they were treated.

"The parents were grateful we were doing it for free," she said. "Some kids came in with things we couldn't treat."

Not being able to help someone is one hard part of going the job.

"I wanted to do more, but there's only so much you could do," she said.

The hardest part, Anderson said, was getting past the language barrier when explaining what was wrong with a child. She said medicine is hard to explain to people who speak the same language, and trying to describe a fever to the worried father of a young boy was hard when the description wasn't something he understood.

This was the first time Anderson has left Forward Operating Base Rustamiyah to come out into sector to deliver aid.

"I loved it," she said. "They were so appreciative. We help (Soldiers) too, but we're lucky if we get a thank you. As Americans, we have what we need for the most part but it's humbling to help these people. You give them Tylenol to lower a fever and it makes you feel like you make a difference."

When it comes to giving medical treatment, Anderson said she thinks the efforts of Coalition Forces are making a difference.

"I'm glad I came," she said.

• Date Taken: 10.25.2007
• Date Posted: 10.25.2007 11:48
• Story ID: 13318
• Location: FORWARD OPERATING BASE COBRA, IQ