Sgt. 1st Class Stacy Niles, 214th Fires Brigade Public Affairs Office
FORWARD OPERATING BASE DELTA, Iraq – Soldiers from the 1st Georgian Infantry Brigade are providing medical and humanitarian assistance to villages surrounding coalition forces checkpoints in Wasit province.
"We have a very good relationship between the villagers and the coalition forces," said Capt. Zaori Marakadze, 1st GB Civil Military Cooperation Team commander.
During a visit Feb. 23, the Georgian team provided supplies and medical and dental care to 50 villagers in Abu Bukar, a village of about 120 residents located near An Numaniyah.
The Georgian CIMIC group conducts one medical operation at villages around each coalition checkpoint every month, said Marakadze.
Georgian dentist 1st Lt. Maka Kurparashvili cared for 15 patients. Most had numerous cavities or no teeth at all. Cavities and loss of teeth are common problems and many villagers do not know how to take care of their teeth, she said. Dentists gave patients training on proper brushing along with toothbrushes and other dental supplies.
Eighty families received packages of food and water. The team also gave humanitarian aid to a nearby school that serves 150 students.
On Feb. 26, The Georgian CIMIC team visited His Ais Asomar to provide medical and humanitarian assistance to residents. The village has a population of 501, said Raheem Mohsar, a resident.
The doctors treated 50 villagers, mostly women. The village is located about eight kilometers from the nearest medical facility; the nearest hospital is some 20 kilometers away, said Mohsar.
This was the first trip of its sort to the village and the villagers were very grateful for the assistance provided by the Georgian forces, said Mohsar.
"The people really need the medical (care) ... and we are glad to help. We intend to get out as much as possible," Marakadze said.
The group takes female medical practitioners and at least one female Soldier to provide healthcare to women out of respect for Iraqi cultural norms, he said.