Story and photo by Pfc. Shea Butler
7th Mobile Public Affairs Detachment
BAKARIYA — Residents of Bakariya village, young and old, with ailments from the common cold to chronic strokes, gathered in a local school to seek medical attention from the Iraqi Army and Coalition Forces Saturday.
The Iraqi Army set up a makeshift clinic to provide extra health care to the locals with the support of U.S. troops. This medical operation provided medicines that aren’t readily available at the local clinics.
Iraqi and American military physicians were present to treat the locals. They gave out medicine and hygiene products. There was also a dentist available to treat toothaches and pull teeth.
“They (the Iraqi Army) aren’t just a warfighting mechanism. They are just like us. They have to take care of the people and they are learning quickly how to do that,” said Sgt. 1st Class David Tunison, a medic with 2nd Battalion, 12th Cavalry Regiment, 1st Cavalry Division.
Long after Coalition Forces leave Iraq, the Iraqi Army will still need to do civil missions such as medical operations.
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(Photo: Iraqi army 1st Lt. Harith, medical doctor, 3rd Brigade, 6th Iraqi Army Division, examines a local Iraqi boy’s ear at a school in Bakariya village, Dec. 9. Official Department of Defense photo.)
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