KABANI, Iraq -- KABANI, Iraq – Iraqi Army Soldiers, and Marines and Sailors from Bravo Battery, 2d Low Altitude Air Defense Battalion, 1st Marine Logistics Group facilitated medical care to more than 130 Iraqis during a cooperative medical engagement, July 24.
During the CME, three doctors and several corpsmen tended to and filled prescriptions for residents of Kabani who do not have a clinic in their town.
Maj. Tahseen Muallah, commander of the 1st IA Division’s clinic in Habbaniyah, said bringing healthcare to Kabani strengthens friendly ties with the town’s residents.
Muallah, 41, from Baghdad, noted that without the CME, those in need of medical assistance would have to travel to Ramadi or Fallujah to see a doctor.
During the CME, patients were first greeted by IA medics and Navy corpsmen, who measured their height and weight before sending them to the doctor. The corpsmen also gave patients toys, snacks and hygiene products.
“Being here makes me appreciate what we have, especially when we help little kids definitely in need,” said Petty Officer 1st Class Stephanie L. Minix, 32, from Graham, Wash., an independent duty corpsman with 1st Supply Battalion
(-) (Reinforced), 1st Marine Logistics Group. “Anytime you can interact with anybody outside the norm is good.”
As part of the CME, doctors and corpsmen also provided preventive medicine to ensure long-term good health of the Iraqis. They educated residents about improving their diets, and of the importance of drinking water and proper hygiene.
Lt. j.g. Kishla A. Askins, physician’s assistant, Medical Company, 1st Supply Bn. (-) (REIN), answered questions from pregnant and post-partum women and also stressed the importance of sunscreen to all attendees.
“I am out here on a mission to promote sunscreen … a lot of people have nothing on (protecting) their skin,” said Askins, 37, from San Diego.
Lt. Cmdr. Lewis J. Fermaglich, medical officer, 2d LAAD Bn., said the cooperation between the IA and Coalition forces was what made the operation in Kabani run smoothly.
The service members worked together providing security and medical care ensuring the day’s operation ran efficiently, added Fermaglich, 33, from Evanston, Ill.
“This was fantastic,” said Muallah of the CME. “We need to make these visits more frequently to show we are here to help the people.”