IRAQI ARMY - WITH COALITION HELP - CONDUCTS

UNCLAS BAGHDAD 003553 SIPDIS SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: MCAP MOPS PINS SOCI AS IZ SUBJECT: IRAQI ARMY - WITH COALITION HELP - CONDUCTS FIRST-EVER MEDCAP IN MUTHANNA ¶1. (U) This is a PRT Muthanna message. ¶2. (U) SUMMARY. The Iraqi Army - with Coalition help - on October 21 treated over 1,000 men, women, and children in its first-ever medical civic action program in the southern Iraqi province of Muthanna. The local brigade commander has publicly taken ownership of the concept, and plans a campaign throughout the entire province. We will work closely with our Iraqi counterparts to help them institutionalize the program, which will solidify support for the Iraqi army and state among the citizens of Muthanna. END SUMMARY. "OUR ARMY HELPING US" -------------- ¶3. (U) Under the slogan "Our Army Helping Us," the Iraqi Army on October 21 conducted its first-ever medical civic action program (MEDCAP) in the province of Muthanna. This Provincial Reconstruction Team (PRT) sponsored initiative served the population of Albu Ewhaid, a poor rural village in the north center of the province. Helped by doctors and medics from the 1st Brigade Combat Team of the 82nd Airborne (1/82 BCT) and the Australian Overwatch Battle Group, the 2nd Brigade of the Iraqi Army's 10th Division treated over 1,000 men, women, and children, many of whom were seeing a doctor for the first time. Through PRT efforts, a Ministry of Health mobile clinic and ambulance were on hand to treat longer-term care patients. "BRINGING SMILES TO THE FACES OF CHILDREN" -------------- ¶4. (U) Deputy Governor Riyadh Majeed al-Dhu'anyi accompanied 2nd Brigade Commander Brigadier General Salam Jabar in a tour of the MEDCAP, which took place in the village's elementary school. Speaking with the 1/82 BCT's brigade surgeon as he was treating patients, Deputy Governor Riyadh expressed his effusive thanks for Coalition support. "You are bringing smiles to the faces of our children," Riyadh said. ¶5. (U) The Deputy Governor reiterated his thanks for U.S. and Australian support in later comments to local television and print journalists. Brigadier General Salam expressed his appreciation for coalition support as well. He took ownership of the MEDCAP concept, telling the press that "the Iraqi Army has two missions: reconstruction and security; this medical mission is part of our reconstruction efforts to help the Iraqi people." Salam added that he hoped to begin a "campaign" of MEDCAPs throughout the province. ¶6. (U) An Australian Nursing Officer noted that majority of the cases he saw consisted of women in a state of chronic dehydration. Hard labor in the fields coupled with the lack of clean drinking water meant that many women only consumed two liters of water per day, far less than what they needed in the hot climate of southern Iraq. MENTORING PRODUCES RESULTS -------------- ¶7. (U) The Overwatch battle group had provided its Iraqi counterparts training on perimeter security measures prior to the event. The Iraqi soldiers performed professionally. "They're real champs," one Australian officer commented, "I couldn't have asked for anything more." ¶8. (U) 1/82 BCT and Australian doctors and medics mentored the Iraqi medical staff throughout the day on screening and treating the stream of patients. One Iraqi medic commented that he had learned from a 1/82 BCT doctor how to better prescribe medicine to meet patient needs. Iraqi officers uniformly expressed gratitude for the medicine that the 1/82nd and PRT had provided to support their effort. COMMENT -------------- ¶9. (SBU) The October 21 MEDCAP was a resounding success. In addition to treating a community in need, we persuaded the local command of the Iraqi Army to conduct and take ownership of a MEDCAP. Our goal now is to help them institutionalQe this important civil-military operation, which will solidify support for the Iraqi Army and state throughout the province. From the population sample treated, clearly the need for clean water is paramount. We are already focusing quick response funds on this area. BUTENIS