V CORPS ARTILLERY BATTALION SETS SIGHTS ON IMPROVING OLDEST HOSPITAL IN BAGHDAD NEIGHBORHOOD
V Corps Release
Release Date: 10/6/2003
By Sgt. Mark S. Rickert 372nd Mobile Public Affairs Detachment
BAGHDAD, Iraq -- The Al-Nuaman Hospital is the biggest and oldest public hospital in this city's Aadhamiya neighborhood district. During combat here the hospital remained operational, providing care to an overwhelming number of patients, even when the battle jeopardized supply routes. The hospital has endured many hardships.
Medical supplies are still slow in coming, and on top of that, many parts of the hospital are falling apart. Although the hospital escaped the ravages of war, the damages of time are steadily progressing.
When the 2nd Battalion, 3rd Field Artillery of V Corps's 1st Armored Division established its post within the Aadhamiya district, 1st Lt. Jaime Davila, a medical officer with the 2/3rd, says he realized U.S. forces needed to support the hospital.
"When I arrived here in Aadhamiya, the Al-Nuaman Hospital was fully operational, but they needed support there," Davila said. "As a medical officer of the battalion, it is my duty to improve the health care system and the level of health care that is provided."
After assessing the hospital's needs, Davila immediately tracked down a stockpile of intravenous fluids. During this time, the temperature in Baghdad was skyrocketing, causing a steady influx of patients. Davila coordinated with a medical warehouse in Baghdad and arranged for a five-ton truck to bring a full cargo of intravenous fluids.
"All hospitals needed fluids during this time," said Davila, "especially here in Baghdad, with so many people wounded in the war, and people dehydrating."
The 2/3rd's support reached a climax recently, when an explosion at a nearby detergent factory caused chemicals to be released into the air.
"We got a call that there were mass casualties involving inhalation injuries," said Davila. "They needed medication, intravenous tubing, catheters and so on. The problem was that the incident happened late at night, and there was no way the hospital could get what it needed."
As fate would have it, the 2/3rd had already stockpiled medical supplies at its base camp. Because of a new Iraqi army training program there, the unit had visited an Iraqi medical warehouse and picked up supplies to start a "mini aid station" where Iraqis could treat heat casualties and other injuries.
"It was a lifesaver to them," said Davila. "Afterward, we all said, 'Man, how lucky we had all that stuff!'"
"We were very appreciative of their support," said Dr. Thair Al-Rawi, the hospital's director. "We felt they did everything they could do to help us."
The battalion doesn't plan to stop its support there. Davila is pushing for funds to help the hospital refurbish its emergency room and outpatient clinic. Many of the hospital's older buildings are in poor condition, with uneven floors, cracked walls, holes in the ceiling, and air conditioning units that need repair.
The hospital has teamed up with engineers from the Baghdad University. They are planning and drawing up blueprints for reconstruction efforts. The 2/3rd is now coordinating funding for the project.
"The Army has helped us, step by step, with planning and budgeting," said Al-Rawi. "Davila visits with us regularly, and we feel he is helping as best as he can." "It establishes good rapport to have an open communication with fellow medical providers," said Davila. "The ones who will benefit most are the local Iraqis. We want to provide them with a decent building that is suitable -- a clean, hygienic, and up-to-standard medical facility."
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