Airmen improve capability of Iraqi medical clinic

Published March 3, 2011
By Staff Sgt. R. Michael Longoria
9th Air and Space Expeditionary Task Force - Iraq Public Affairs

ALI AIR BASE, Iraq -- With only three people working in a building no larger than most apartments in the states, the Iraqi medical clinic on Ali Air Base is constantly operating at maximum capacity to provide care for more than 700 Iraqi airmen.

"Healthy airmen are essential for the Iraqi Air Force to successfully complete its missions and secure this region," said Maj. Mechille Braden, base transition team officer in charge. "The clinic cannot properly support the medical needs of the Iraqi airmen here. Our team is working tirelessly to help improve their facility."

Airmen assigned to the BTT here have helped improve the clinic's ability to meet the needs of the Iraqi air force by providing $200,000 in essential medical equipment, increasing storage capacity and coordinating monthly self-aid buddy care training.

"As the Iraqi Air Force starts to take over, its ability to provide quality healthcare is becoming extremely important," said 2nd Lt. Tasia Tindle, BTT operations officer in charge. "We assess the needs of the Iraqi medical clinic and assist them in getting what they need to be successful."

With gracious donations from other units on base, the team was able to provide the clinic with a variety of items including a defibrillator, oxygen tanks, emergency bandages, gauzes, ointments and antibiotics.

"The amount of goodwill on the base is amazing," Lieutenant Tindle said. "I'm very happy with all the help and support we are receiving from others."

With only three rooms, the clinic was limited on space and, therefore, limited on the amount of supplies it can keep in stock. The team recognized this shortfall almost immediately and found the clinic a place that it could keep all of its newly acquired equipment and supplies.

"A significant improvement we made was getting them storage," said Lieutenant Tindle, a Shreveport, La., native. "We put out a request to other units on the base and, within days, we got them a 40-foot container to store their supplies in."

Now that they have a storage room filled with supplies, training for the Iraqis with U.S. Army healthcare professionals is the top priority. The training allows the current staff to increase their knowledge and understanding while teaching new students the basics of first aid.

"With proper training, they can better care for all of the Iraqi airmen here," she said. "If any major incident occurred, in a short period of time, they would not be able to meet the needs of the Iraqi Air Force. Our goal is to get them from three personnel to 30."

The Iraqi footprint is estimated to reach about 2,500 airmen. Lieutenant Tindle and her team are trying to prepare the clinic for the increased workload.

"We are trying to get them a bigger facility, so they can go from a first-aid station to a fully operationally clinic," she said. "I hope this continues to grow, and they get their own hospital that is 100 percent self-sufficient."