Members of the 364th Civil Affairs Brigade, along with two bilingual, bicultural advisors, recently met with eight Iraqi Soldiers and a nurse at the Hero Clinic, Camp Iraqi Heroes, Baghdad to conduct the first of as series of training sessions designed to expand the clinic's reach.
"Today is the first of what will be weekly classes held on Tuesday to teach medical skills," Sgt. 1st Class Markay Tracy, Stevenson, Wash., said. "Eventually I'll be reviewing how to insert an IV, triage and other basic medical skills," she added.
The 364th Civil Affairs medic said the goal for the clinic is to be able to provide more in-depth treatment not only for the Iraqi Soldiers, but for their families as well.
"We started with cardiopulmonary resuscitation because it's the most important life saving skill," Tracy said. "The unit will continue to enable training for the clinic once a week for two hours. Future classes will develop the laboratory technicians, X-ray technicians and nurses."
The class was led by the two advisors from the 364th Civil Affairs Brigade. The two Iraqi doctors took turns explaining the procedures for performing CPR with the aid of a slide show and video.
"They have to know about the CPR and the choking," one of the doctors said. "We need to let all the Soldiers and medics in the IGFC know how to deal with people that are unconscious and how to help them until they reach a hospital."
The BBA has been working in Iraq for four years and has taught similar classes before with other Iraqi soldiers and civilians.
The Iraqi doctors said the medics from the clinic were an ideal class. They listened closely, eager to demonstrate their knowledge to the U.S. Soldiers and their peers. Following the lecture, volunteers performed CPR on a mannequin provided by the 364th Civil Affairs Brigade.
Iraqi Army Lt. Laheeb Rudha Huseem, logistical officer and laboratory technician at Hero Clinic, said as their medics become more proficient, they will in turn train other Iraqi medics.
Hero Clinic is currently operating as a Level 2 Clinic treating mostly sick call patients and some in-patient care.
"We treat 15-20 patients a day, doing mostly routine checkups," Huseem said. "In addition we have treated many gastrointestinal problems."
Lt. Col. Trudy Salerno, 364th Affairs Brigade public health team chief, said they have the potential to become a Level 3 clinic, providing ophthalmology, dental, X-ray and possibly minor surgery. The clinic is also working with Task Force Med to establish an ambulance service.
"In my experience this is one of the more successful clinics I have seen," Salerno said. "Their equipment is in good shape. They are well supplied; they have a pharmacy, nurses and two doctors."
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