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FOB DELTA, Iraq (April 28, 2008) - Military doctors here are
conducting a series of lectures for Iraqi doctors in Wasit
province.
This is the second eight-week course conducted by doctors from
the 948th Forward Surgical Team and Company C, 26th Brigade Support
Battalion, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 3rd Infantry Division, both
attached to 214th Fires Brigade.
The training has proved valuable for the Iraqi doctors,
particularly this second course, which held many of the same
attendees as the first one.
The lectures emphasized how under the rule of Saddam Hussein,
the medical community in Iraq became isolated from the outside
world, said one doctor present.
The best thing for Iraqi doctors would be to establish medical
schools in Iraq for post-graduate study, the doctor said. "The
schools must be in Iraq, and we need a close relationship with the
U.S. to make it work."
All of the Iraqi doctors who attended the course agreed that
while the lectures were very valuable, they needed practical
exercises to cement the learning.
"We've always had access to the information, from books and
other sources," the doctor said. "For the past 20 years, there has
been little interaction with outside providers. I want the
opportunity to work side-by-side with American doctors."
The training made use of practical exercises utilizing both
training and observation of trauma treatment, said 2nd Lt. Jennifer
Powers, Company C's Treatment Platoon leader and the training
facilitator.
During the program, the military doctors got an initial list of
equipment the Iraqi doctors need for their facilities.
"We have the lists," Powers said. "Now, we are working on
getting the needed equipment out to the hospitals and preventative
health clinics. One of our goals is to add intensive care unit
capacity to hospitals in the area."
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