Photo By Sgt. Rebekah Lampman | Cpl. Jessica McKenzie, assigned to the 550th Air and Support Medical Company, shows...... read more read more
BAGHDAD, Iraq — As she walked through the doors of the clinic at Camp Iraqi Heroes in Baghdad, Iraq, Cpl. Jessica McKenzie prepared herself for an important mission - training the Iraqi medics on equipment that can help save lives.
"I'm glad that I have the opportunity to train some of these medics and help them help their Soldiers," said McKenzie, a laboratory technician from the 550th Air and Support Medical Company. "They asked lots of questions which is really good and helps them to be more proficient."
McKenzie and two other health care providers spent the day teaching the Iraqis how to use laboratory, optometry and x-ray equipment. This is the first iteration of training here at the clinic and they plan to come back at least once a month to advise and assist the Iraqis.
"Golby clinic is a level-two medical clinic as well as the Heroes clinic," said Lt. Col. Timothy Walsh, the Civil Military Operations officer for the 1st Medical Brigade, Task Force Med. "Since they're both located here it made a lot of sense to partner them up to build relationships and then exchange our knowledge and training."
Before coming over to the Heroes clinic, the U.S. medics brought the Iraqis over to Golby clinic to see how they operate their facility. This gave the Iraqis a chance to see firsthand how to set up and use the equipment.
"Instead of just giving them things, we're teaching them how to use it," said Walsh.
"It's like the saying goes, if you teach a man how to fish he'll eat for a lifetime, and that's exactly what we're doing here, they're learning things that will better prepare them to sustain themselves when we leave," he added.
As she walked through the doors of the clinic at Camp Iraqi Heroes in Baghdad, Iraq, Cpl. Jessica McKenzie prepared herself for an important mission — training the Iraqi medics on equipment that can help save lives.
As part of the United States Forces - Iraq mission to assist and train the Iraqi forces, McKenzie and two other health care providers from Task Force 1st Med spent April 3 teaching the Iraqi medics how to operate and maintain laboratory, optometric and x-ray equipment. It was part of the first iteration of training at the clinic. Task Force members plan to come back at least once a month to train with their Iraqi counterparts.
"I'm glad that I have the opportunity to train some of these medics and help them help their Soldiers," said McKenzie, a laboratory technician from the 550th Air and Support Medical Company. "They asked lots of questions, which is really good and helps them to be more proficient."
Both the Golby and Heroes Clinics are level-two clinics, according to Lt. Col. Timothy Walsh, the Civil Military Operations officer for the 1st Medical Brigade. Both have the ability to stabilize patients and can provide a higher level of medical care than a basic troop medical clinic, but have no specialized facilities or doctors on hand.
Since Golby Clinic is on Camp Victory and the Heroes Clinic is on nearby Camp Iraqi Heroes, Walsh said it made sense to partner with them to build a relationship and exchange knowledge and training.
Before training at the Heroes Clinic, the U.S. medics first brought the Iraqi medical personnel to Golby Clinic to see how the American facility operates. This gave the Iraqis a chance to see firsthand how to set up and use the equipment.
"Instead of just giving them things, we're teaching them how to use it," said Walsh. "It's like the saying goes, if you teach a man how to fish he'll eat for a lifetime, and that's exactly what we're doing here. They're learning things that will better prepare them to sustain themselves when we leave."
| Date Taken: | 04.15.2010 |
| Date Posted: | 04.20.2010 04:33 |
| Story ID: | 48390 |
| Location: | CAMP VICTORY, IQ |
| Web Views: | 236 |
| Downloads: | 146 |
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