CAMP VICTORY — Iraqi Army Soldiers and Coalition forces conducted a veterinarian medical event in the Fetoah area, July 14.
Iraqi Soldiers from 4th Company, 2nd Battalion, 23rd Brigade, 17th Iraqi Army Division assisted Soldiers from Company B, 1st Battalion, 35th Armored Division (attached), 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault) during a Veterinarian Civil Action Program. 411th Civil Affairs Battalion also provided support for the event.
“I feel good because we have done a good service for my area and my people by providing them with these services,” said Maj. Ahmad Hade, 4/2/23/17 IA commander.
The VETCAP provided vaccinations and internal and external pesticide treatments for the animals of local farmers who are currently without veterinary care or are unable to afford such services.
“I appreciate the medicine for my animals; it is very good to have the assistance. (IA and CF) are doing a good job; this is a very important thing to our people,” said Hadi Sloobi Muthawer, a local farmer.
“This medicine is good for the animals,” he added. “It makes them eat more and provide more milk.”
A local Iraqi veterinarian worked closely with Maj. Freddie Zink, 445th Civil Affairs Battalion and Multi-National Division - Center veterinarian, to treat more than 200 sheep and 20 cattle from two local farms in the Fetoah area, approximately 15 kilometers southwest of Baghdad.
“Normally, they would bring animals to a centralized location, but eventually we got word it would be easier for us to move around to other areas, because it was harder for them to bring the animals to us due to them being so spread out,” said Capt. Eric Allen Morton, Co. B, 1-35 Armd. Div. commander.
There are roughly 4,000 unemployed veterinarians in Iraq right now.
“The plan for future events like these is to give whatever vaccinations are left over to the Iraqi veterinarian for him to use the product and go out and charge people to do their animals,” said Zink, a Piedmont, S.C., native. “Eventually, the goal is for the veterinarian to become self-sufficient and use that money to buy more vaccines.”
Missions such as these are essential to the future of Iraq and aid them in their efforts of self-reliance.
“Because the area is so secure now, it lets the Soldiers get out and interact with the IA and the locals, and let them know we have other services we can provide for them,” said Morton.