Photo By Sgt. Daniel West | Iraqis wait outside the al Jameer clinic in the Zuwarijat District of al Kut, Iraq,...... read more read more
By Sgt. Daniel T. West
41st Fires Brigade
FORWARD OPERATING BASE DELTA, Iraq – Doctors from the 41st Fires Brigade and El Salvador's Battalìon Cuscatlàn brought medical care to citizens of the Zuwarijat District of al Kut, July 31.
The event kicked off Operation Bring on the Docs, which is a multiphase operation with the Wasit province Ministry of Health designed to identify and improve current health care capabilities, said Col. Italo Bastianelli, 41st Fires Bde. surgeon.
"The overall objective is to develop an Iraqi led, enduring, quality health care system within Wasit province," he said.
The Zuwarijat operation was held at the Ministry of Health's al Jamaheer clinic, and focused on education for local health care professionals and citizens of the district.
Medical assistance visits are planned and executed in cooperation with Iraqi health care professionals, said Bastianelli. Coalition health care providers use the visits to understand limitations local doctors face and to improve their ability to care for their patients, he said.
"With improved training, facilities, medical equipment and supplies, Iraqi health professionals will be able to take the lead in caring for the Iraqi people," said Bastianelli. "This will allow coalition forces medical assets to take advisory and support roles."
Approximately 200 patients received treatment, which focused on preventive medicine, at the al Jamaheer clinic during the event.
"It's a good experience for young medics and doctors to get out and see the people of Iraq, and work with them, to help rebuild the country," said Pfc. Jessica Rush, Company C, 589th Brigade Support Battalion, one of the medics on the scene.
"All together, it was fun," added Pfc. Dana Larsen, also of Company C. "We never got a rest or lunch break, and didn't even notice. We did a lot, but there are so many more things we wish we could have done, but couldn't."
They will have their chance - the operation's work in the al Kut area should take about two months to complete, said Bastianelli.
Brigadier General Jeffrey Buchanan, Multi-National Division - Center Deputy Commanding General for Operations, also visited the event, with Col. Walter Mauricio Arèvalo, commander of Cuscatlàn Battalìon, there to visit the Salvadoran troops assisting with the operation.
| Date Taken: | 07.31.2008 |
| Date Posted: | 08.05.2008 16:16 |
| Story ID: | 22157 |
| Location: | AL KUT, IQ |
| Web Views: | 71 |
| Downloads: | 54 |
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