Capt. Christopher Curtis, the brigade surgeon with 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 25th Infantry Division, talks with a pediatrician about a patient’s care at the Kirkuk Pediatric Hospital in Kirkuk, Iraq, on April 19, 2006. Curtis arranged for a large delivery of vital medical supplies for the hospital such as IV fluids, sutures, antibiotics, x-ray films and more. The Kirkuk Pediatric Hospital is the only pediatric hospital in the province, and has been undersupplied for over a year due to security issues with transporting medical supplies from the Ministry of Health in Baghdad. (U.S. Army photo by Spc. Amanda Morrissey, 5th Mobile Public Affairs Detachment)

Blackanthem Military News,

KIRKUK, Iraq – 25th Infantry Division’s 3rd Brigade Combat Team delivered medical supplies to the Kirkuk Pediatric Hospital April 19.  The delivery included 6,500 intravenous bags, 3,400 bottles of medicine and needles, sutures and X-ray films.

Cpt. Christopher Curtis, 3rd Brigade’s surgeon coordinated for the delivery of supplies to take place at the hospital instead of at the medical supply warehouse.  This will get the supplies to the hospital so they can be used for treatment immediately.

According to Curtis, these supplies will help fight the most common ailments faced by Iraqi children: fever, infection and dehydration. The IV bags and needles will enable treatment of approximately 3,000 children to be treated for dehydration, IV medications, or have fluids for surgery.

“The supplies and medicines change the type of services we are able to provide and improve medical care for the children.  The fluids will help treat fever and prevent illness from dehydration in the summer,” said Dr. Rashid Burhan, Deputy Director of Ministry of Health.

All of the supplies were procured as part of the Coalition Force Commander’s Emergency Response Program (CERP).

“The (pediatric) hospital has not received enough supplies due to the lack of security in moving them from Baghdad,” said Curtis.  With this large push of supplies, he plans for the hospital to get several months ahead in medical and surgical treatment. The money and time saved can be used to order supplies for the future and establish a system of supply delivery.

In addition to the supply delivery, Curtis routinely meets with the doctors and student residents to teach, coach and mentor them in order to improve treatment procedures.

“The general basis of knowledge of the doctors is fantastic,” said Curtis.  “The standard of care is very high, and they manage to keep the hospital very clean, which is challenging in this [dusty] environment.”

By ensuring supplies are on hand for treatment and providing technical assistance as Iraqi doctors provide medical care to their own people, Curtis anticipates Iraqis will gain confidence in their medical system and not rely on coalition facilities.

“With these supplies we have everything for medical care.  I want the media to let people know we are ready for any emergency and can treat any condition,” said Burhan.

ADDITIONAL PHOTOS:

Lt. Col. Michael Browder (middle right), the 2nd Battalion, 35th Infantry Regiment commander, and Dr. Rashid Burhan, the deputy director of the Ministry of Health, answer questions at a press conference with Iraqi and U.S. military media in front of the Kirkuk Pediatric Hospital in Kirkuk, Iraq, on April 19, 2007, about a large delivery of vital medical supplies for the hospital such as IV fluids, sutures, antibiotics, x-ray films and more. The Kirkuk Pediatric Hospital is the only pediatric hospital in the province, and has been undersupplied for over a year due to security issues with transporting medical supplies from the Ministry of Health in Baghdad. (U.S. Army photo by Spc. Amanda Morrissey, 5th Mobile Public Affairs Detachment)

Lt. Col. Michael Browder (middle right), the 2nd Battalion, 35th Infantry Regiment commander, and Dr. Rashid Burhan, the deputy director of the Ministry of Health, shake hands after Dr. Rashid was given a small token symbolizing a much larger delivery of vital medical supplies for the hospital such as IV fluids, sutures, antibiotics, x-ray films and more on April 19, 2007. The Kirkuk Pediatric Hospital is the only pediatric hospital in the province, and has been undersupplied for over a year due to security issues with transporting medical supplies from the Ministry of Health in Baghdad. (U.S. Army photo by Spc. Amanda Morrissey, 5th Mobile Public Affairs Detachment)

25th Infantry Division Soldiers from Schofield Barracks, HI, work with local Iraqis to unload a large delivery of vital medical supplies for the Kirkuk Pediatric Hospital in Kirkuk, Iraq, on April 19, 2007. The delivery consisted of IV fluids, sutures, antibiotics, x-ray films and more. The Kirkuk Pediatric Hospital is the only pediatric hospital in the province, and has been undersupplied for over a year due to security issues with transporting medical supplies from the Ministry of Health in Baghdad. (U.S. Army photo by Spc. Amanda Morrissey, 5th Mobile Public Affairs Detachment)

Local Iraqis unload a large delivery of vital medical supplies for the Kirkuk Pediatric Hospital with the assistance of 25th Infantry Division Soldiers in Kirkuk, Iraq, on April 19, 2007. The delivery consisted of IV fluids, sutures, antibiotics, x-ray films and more. The Kirkuk Pediatric Hospital is the only pediatric hospital in the province, and has been undersupplied for over a year due to security issues with transporting medical supplies from the Ministry of Health in Baghdad. (U.S. Army photo by Spc. Amanda Morrissey, 5th Mobile Public Affairs Detachment)

This entry was posted on Saturday, April 21st, 2007 at 3:24 pm and is filed under . You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.