Photo By Staff Sgt. James Hunter | Capt. Jerry Braverman, a native of Roseburg, Ore., checks an Iraqi woman's feet after...... read more read more
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By Sgt. James Hunter
2nd Brigade Combat Team, 101st Airborne Division
BAGHDAD – Many families in Iraq have a variety of ailments due to malnutrition, lack of potable water and lack of basic care.
It is no different in Baghdad's Iraqi family village where residents suffer from a myriad of illnesses. Among other ailments, Iraqis suffer from high-blood pressure, anemia and diabetes; however, these medical conditions are treatable.
To help the men, women and children of the Iraqi family village, Iraqi doctors and Soldiers from the 1st Battalion, 320th Field Artillery Regiment, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault), held a medical operation, July 26.
Currently, the Iraqi family village is without a medical clinic to meet the everyday medicinal needs of the Iraqi people. However, medical operations such as this afford them the basic medical care needed to improve their quality of life.
One elderly Iraqi woman, trembling in pain, came in complaining of swelling in her legs. She mentioned she had been diagnosed with diabetes.
Capt. Jerry Braverman, a native of Roseburg, Ore., examined her legs and feet.
"It's very important she elevates her feet," he said to an interpreter. He suggested she elevated her feet nightly, followed by wrapping them in a bandage.
Basically fluid is building in her legs, and to help combat that problem he offered her a diuretic, which will help remove the water build-up in her leg through urination.
Staff Sgt. Jason Torres, a native of Miami, examined a woman in her late 20's. When she lifted the sleeve on her right arm it was shocking to see her suffering from 2nd and 3rd-degree burns.
"[The burns] looked like they were a week and a half old. It looked like a small infection had begun," said Torres with Headquarters and Headquarters Battery, 1st Bn., 320th FA Regt.
Torres scraped away as much dead skin on the burn as he could from her upper right arm. He then finished cleaning the wound and placed bandages on the burn. She was given antibiotics, instructed to clean it often and see a burn specialist as soon as possible.
Torres has seen four burn patients during his time patrolling the village, and said it's quite simple to treat a burn patient, but treating a burn quickly is a necessity.
"The main thing you are trying to prevent on a burn is infection or any type of external debris sticking to it," said Torres. "The best thing to do is put dry, sterile gauze on the wound."
The worse burn victim Torres had to treat was a two-year old child, weeks prior to the medical operation. She had burns to the right side of her neck, right arm and 75 percent of her leg. Her right foot had third degree burns, with the skin barely clinging on.
It was a difficult situation for Torres, who has a little girl himself.
"It was difficult for me to handle that – for me I have a little girl – when I saw the skin coming off, the top layer skin, with the baby crying," said Torres.
It comes with the job – medics often wish they had all the necessary equipment on hand, especially when it comes to children.
"I just don't like seeing little kids in pain," said Torres. "They are innocent. It makes you feel helpless."
But helpless is not what they are in the eyes of those Iraqis receiving the treatment.
They were able to treat 423 Iraqis, supplying many with antibiotics, burn ointment, pain relievers, asthma medications, multi-vitamins and penicillin.
Dr. Yousif Yousif, who earned his degree at Baghdad University, left for the U.S. 12 years ago, but felt compelled to come back to his birth nation and help his fellow Iraqis.
"I came back because I got a job here to help both the Iraqis and Americans supporting the War on Terrorism," said Yousif. "It's always good to help the Iraqis, to know what's going on and what they are going through."
He came across many Iraqis who don't have basic medical care, or the money to see doctors.
"We just help to the best of our abilities," Yousif said. "We are dealing with very basic medications here, but we are helping at least 60-70 pecent of the population."
There were very few patients they weren't able to fully help.
"Basically what we try to do is give them our advice if we can't treat them here – go see a specialist," said Yousif. "Others we give medication, especially for those who haven't seen a doctor in years and don't have access to medical care. When they get the antibiotics and painkillers I think it will be great for them in the long run."
At the end of the day, the medics and physicians left Iraqi family village with a feeling of satisfaction.
"For me there is no greater reward to be able to help somebody, put a smile on somebody's face," said Torres.
| Date Taken: | 07.26.2008 |
| Date Posted: | 08.01.2008 07:48 |
| Story ID: | 22029 |
| Location: | BAGHDAD, IQ |
| Web Views: | 101 |
| Downloads: | 63 |
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