Medics provide health care to Kamaliyah citizens

Courtesy Photo | Spc. Jon Woods, a Cheyenne, Wyo. native, asks an Iraqi mother questions about her child needing medical assistance as Sgt. Bartholomew Anderson, from Pinellas Park, Fla., annotates the child's symptoms in the Kamaliyah neighborhood of eastern Baghdad, May 29. The Soldiers are combat medics attached to Company D, 1st Combined Arms Battalion, 66th Armor Regiment, who conducted a community medical engagement in Muhalla 763 to provide heath care to 55 area residents.  

BAGHDAD, IRAQ

05.29.2008

Courtesy Story

4th Brigade Combat Team, 10th Mountain Division Public Affairs

4th Brigade Combat Team, 10th Mountain Division

FORWARD OPERATING BASE LOYALTY, Iraq – Kamaliyah residents of Muhalla 763 received high-quality health care during a community medical engagement, May 29.

Soldiers from Company D, 1st Combined Arms Battalion, 66th Armor Regiment, provided security as combat medics treated Kamaliyah children, elders and young adults alike. Medics saw people for a variety of ailments, including acute asthma and a scorpion bite. During the three-hour visit to Muhalla 763, medics provided health care to 55 Iraqi citizens.

"We did what we could to relieve minor symptoms of colds, etc... within our scope of practice," said Sgt. Bartholomew Anderson, a combat medic from Pinellas Park, Fla., attached to Co. D.

"The families that came to us had mostly minor issues; some, however, had some fairly serious ones (we couldn't treat).

"Even with all the problems going on around them, the people of the village seemed to be in good spirits," continued Anderson.

Spc. Jon Woods, a native of Cheyenne, Wyo. who is a combat medic attached to Co. D, said 2nd Platoon Soldiers did a great job setting up and securing the engagement. Additionally, he commented about the importance of such an operation.

"Even though on a grand scale this mission might be considered a small thing, those of us involved feel as though we did something great for the surrounding community," expressed Woods. "It made me feel good that I could help the local community, and the people seemed to be very enthusiastic and greeted us with open arms. I look forward to doing similar missions in the future."

The neighborhood in Muhalla 763 is somewhat isolated and has limited access to medical treatment, explained 1st Lt. Tom Allison, a platoon leader with Co. D, 1st CAB, 66th Armor Regt. from Seekonk, Mass., Soldiers will keep working with Iraqi citizens, Iraqi security forces and the government of Iraq to ensure continued progress in Kamaliyah, he said.

• Date Taken: 05.29.2008
• Date Posted: 06.03.2008 09:21
• Story ID: 20055
• Location: BAGHDAD, IQ