Posted on 04/07/2009 4:31:27 PM PDT by SandRat
More than 180 Iraqi patients were seen and treated during a combined medical engagement in Kut, April 2. Photo by Sgt. 1st Class Joe Thompson, Multi-National Division - South East.
FOB DELTA — The combined medical engagement team of 41st Fires Brigade visited the Hawraa Clinic in Kut to share knowledge and conduct joint medical screenings with Iraqi medical personnel, April 2.
The visit is part of Operation Gunner Med, a joint medical civil-military operation between the Wasit Director General of Health and 41st Fires Brigade, designed to restore medical service capacity in Wasit and bring medical care up to the regional health care standard.
“It’s very rewarding to know that we are going out and helping people with their problems,” said Maj. Deydre Teyhen, a physical therapist with the 10th Combat Support Hospital here.
The visit was Teyhen’s first trip to an Iraqi clinic in support of Operation Gunner Med, and she said she brings a different type of medicine to patients.
“Medication may not always provide the answer to pain problems,” said Teyhen, a native of Canton, Ohio. “Sometimes manipulating the spine can relieve the pain.”
Along with helping people with their backs, Teyhen says that one of the areas she also helps patients with is determining what kind of assistive device a patient might need to help them with a muscular or skeletal problem.
“We try to identify what solutions we can provide to them for long term health problems that will enable them to get around in their communities,” she said.
During this visit, the CME team delivered two wheelchairs to the Hawraa clinic and, according to Teyhen, the team has just received around 500 more to distribute to clinics throughout Wasit.
Wasit province has suffered a critical shortage of female medical practitioners since many physicians fled Iraq in 2003.
“Treating the women was very rewarding – being able to help them with their neck, back and knee pain – it was nice to be able to help,” said Teyhen.
The CME team and Iraqi doctors discussed clinical practice standards, patient information, and saw over 180 Iraqi citizens during the visit.
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