Army Brings Medical Care To Village
July 28, 2016 at 4:25 p.m.
KHSOUM ABU HALAN, Iraq - In the village of Khsoum Abu Halan, there has been no available medical facility for the residents. But now, with a recently rehabilitated medical clinic, the village is well on its way to having access to medical care that is right down the street.
On July 9, the 16th MP BDE (ABN) out of Fort Bragg, N.C., and 118th Air Support Medical Battalion out of Ohio, working together, finally opened the village's Khashoom Hallan Medical Clinic.
Also on that day, the units jointly performed a Civil Military Medical Operation for the village people and handed out critically needed medical supplies.
"A Civil Military Medical Operation is the Army's chance to truly help out the Iraqi people by providing medical aid and supplies that they would normally not be able to get," said Maj. Alan R. Kabakoff, the 16th MP's civil affairs officer.
Kabakoff added that this mission was coordinated directly by the commissioner of the Iraqi Highway Patrol, Col. Abdul Ghafwor.
"The IHPs provided all of the security throughout the day and played an integral part in the mission's success. We couldn't have done this without their help," said Kabakoff.
Kabakoff said the CMMO was the first medical-aide mission the brigade has done.
"This is the first joint multi-national exercise that the 16th MPs have put together since getting in country," said Kabakoff. "Today we had people from the Air Force, the Army National Guard and the IHP helping out; I've got to say that this was a great day."
Not only is the brigade trying to give the village outstanding medical aide, Kabakoff said, they are also trying to establish a relationship.
"We are trying to show that we care; we want these people to understand that we truly do have compassion for the Iraqi people," said Sgt. First Class Rueben Raybon Jr., civil affairs noncommissioned officer for the brigade.
Throughout the day, the brigade also handed out more than 200 soccer balls, first aid kits and stuffed animals, said Raybon.
"We came to this country to help them out, and this CMMO mission is our way of showing the villagers what the U.S. Army is all about," Raybon said.
Sgt. First Class Robert A. Ramirez, also a noncommissioned officer for the brigade's civil affairs section, said they have spent more than five months rehabilitating the village medical clinic after getting staffing approval from the from the Iraqi government's Ministry of Health.
"Since the brigade arrived in country, we have spent over $40,000 getting the clinic ready to open," said Ramirez. "We came here to treat the villagers for acute medical care and get a feel for their needs. These people needed medical supplies and they are getting looked at and taken care of; it feels really good to help."
Ramirez said all of the soccer balls, toys and other gifts were donated by the Fort Bragg's Main Post Chapel and the medical supplies were donated by the 118th ASMB.
"This medical attention will help us out a lot; we don't have any clinics near our village here," said Mohammed Ahmed Al-Jebori, speaking through a translator.
"All of us that are a part of this village are poor; by having the Americans come out here and give us medical supplies and the doctors treating our problems is a very good thing. We are all grateful," said Al-Jebori.
1LT Cermelo Roxas, a doctor for the 118th and one of the pediatricians for the CMMO, said he loved getting to help the Iraqi children.
"I'm happy to help the kids the most because they really are the future of this country; it's great to put a smile on their faces," Roxas said.
Throughout the day, Kabakoff said, more than 98 patients were seen and more than 300 gift-packs were given out.
"This is what it's all about, and this is the next phase of the U.S. Army's campaign here in Iraq," said Col. David E. Quantock, commander of the 16th MP BDE (ABN).
"We are providing excellent medical care to these villagers with the help of the IHPs; we are working together to build a safer Iraq. This CMMO is just one example of the Army building confidence with the citizens of this country," said Quantock.
Quantock said everybody who was part of the CMMO mission did their part in helping the people of the Khsoum Abu Halan village get the medical care they deserve.
"We're not just about knocking down doors; we are here to have positive interaction with these people. This is a very unique experience and we should all be very proud of what we are doing here," said Quantock.
Despite the conditions of a hot Baghdad summer's day, the 16th MP BDE (ABN) and the 118th ASMB and their Civil Military Medical Operation went off without a hitch.
The friendships gained that day had a positive impact on both the Americans and the Iraqis. Further, with the medical attention given to its people and the opening of a medical clinic, the time spent at the village will be a day that soldiers who were a part of the mission will remember for the rest of their lives. [[In-content Ad]]
KHSOUM ABU HALAN, Iraq - In the village of Khsoum Abu Halan, there has been no available medical facility for the residents. But now, with a recently rehabilitated medical clinic, the village is well on its way to having access to medical care that is right down the street.
On July 9, the 16th MP BDE (ABN) out of Fort Bragg, N.C., and 118th Air Support Medical Battalion out of Ohio, working together, finally opened the village's Khashoom Hallan Medical Clinic.
Also on that day, the units jointly performed a Civil Military Medical Operation for the village people and handed out critically needed medical supplies.
"A Civil Military Medical Operation is the Army's chance to truly help out the Iraqi people by providing medical aid and supplies that they would normally not be able to get," said Maj. Alan R. Kabakoff, the 16th MP's civil affairs officer.
Kabakoff added that this mission was coordinated directly by the commissioner of the Iraqi Highway Patrol, Col. Abdul Ghafwor.
"The IHPs provided all of the security throughout the day and played an integral part in the mission's success. We couldn't have done this without their help," said Kabakoff.
Kabakoff said the CMMO was the first medical-aide mission the brigade has done.
"This is the first joint multi-national exercise that the 16th MPs have put together since getting in country," said Kabakoff. "Today we had people from the Air Force, the Army National Guard and the IHP helping out; I've got to say that this was a great day."
Not only is the brigade trying to give the village outstanding medical aide, Kabakoff said, they are also trying to establish a relationship.
"We are trying to show that we care; we want these people to understand that we truly do have compassion for the Iraqi people," said Sgt. First Class Rueben Raybon Jr., civil affairs noncommissioned officer for the brigade.
Throughout the day, the brigade also handed out more than 200 soccer balls, first aid kits and stuffed animals, said Raybon.
"We came to this country to help them out, and this CMMO mission is our way of showing the villagers what the U.S. Army is all about," Raybon said.
Sgt. First Class Robert A. Ramirez, also a noncommissioned officer for the brigade's civil affairs section, said they have spent more than five months rehabilitating the village medical clinic after getting staffing approval from the from the Iraqi government's Ministry of Health.
"Since the brigade arrived in country, we have spent over $40,000 getting the clinic ready to open," said Ramirez. "We came here to treat the villagers for acute medical care and get a feel for their needs. These people needed medical supplies and they are getting looked at and taken care of; it feels really good to help."
Ramirez said all of the soccer balls, toys and other gifts were donated by the Fort Bragg's Main Post Chapel and the medical supplies were donated by the 118th ASMB.
"This medical attention will help us out a lot; we don't have any clinics near our village here," said Mohammed Ahmed Al-Jebori, speaking through a translator.
"All of us that are a part of this village are poor; by having the Americans come out here and give us medical supplies and the doctors treating our problems is a very good thing. We are all grateful," said Al-Jebori.
1LT Cermelo Roxas, a doctor for the 118th and one of the pediatricians for the CMMO, said he loved getting to help the Iraqi children.
"I'm happy to help the kids the most because they really are the future of this country; it's great to put a smile on their faces," Roxas said.
Throughout the day, Kabakoff said, more than 98 patients were seen and more than 300 gift-packs were given out.
"This is what it's all about, and this is the next phase of the U.S. Army's campaign here in Iraq," said Col. David E. Quantock, commander of the 16th MP BDE (ABN).
"We are providing excellent medical care to these villagers with the help of the IHPs; we are working together to build a safer Iraq. This CMMO is just one example of the Army building confidence with the citizens of this country," said Quantock.
Quantock said everybody who was part of the CMMO mission did their part in helping the people of the Khsoum Abu Halan village get the medical care they deserve.
"We're not just about knocking down doors; we are here to have positive interaction with these people. This is a very unique experience and we should all be very proud of what we are doing here," said Quantock.
Despite the conditions of a hot Baghdad summer's day, the 16th MP BDE (ABN) and the 118th ASMB and their Civil Military Medical Operation went off without a hitch.
The friendships gained that day had a positive impact on both the Americans and the Iraqis. Further, with the medical attention given to its people and the opening of a medical clinic, the time spent at the village will be a day that soldiers who were a part of the mission will remember for the rest of their lives. [[In-content Ad]]