Posted on 06/15/2009 4:25:02 PM PDT by SandRat
Maj. Roger Brockbank, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, works with doctors from the Basrah Women's and Children's Hospital during neonatal resuscitation training aboard Contingency Operating Base Basrah, June 10. Photo by Sgt. Rodney Foliente, 4th Infantry Division.
BASRAH — U.S. doctors and medical staff conducted neonatal resuscitation training for local doctors aboard the Contingency Operating Base here, June 10-11.
The 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, offered the training and introduced new procedures and equipment that can help save infant lives and reduce the risk of babies suffering from cerebral palsy and mental retardation.
"Iraq has one of the highest infant mortality rates in the world," said Maj. Roger Brockbank, 2nd BCT surgeon. Recent studies also show that many instances of cerebral palsy and mental retardation may have been avoided with proper resuscitation training.
"The first few minutes of an infant's life are critical, as the infant makes the transition from the womb to breathing in the outside world,” continued Brockbank. “A lot of times, simple interventions and techniques can help the infants in need of assistance, to make that transition and lead healthy lives."
In addition to the training, the brigade has provided training aids and equipment donated from American non-government organizations. The donated equipment and training aids included infant-sized mannequins with simulated lungs, and tools to perform a variety of resuscitation measures. The mouths, throats and lungs of the mannequins are also realistically formed, allowing staff members to train on emergencies procedures, such as inserting breathing tubes.
According to said Capt. Will Smith, 2nd BCT medical operations officer, the training program was coordinated with the provincial government and the directors of the Basrah Women's and Children's Hospital,
"It was exciting to see the local doctors take the lead as they establish an ongoing neonatal resuscitation training program, which will result in improving their provincial healthcare capacity,” said Smith. “I was inspired by their enthusiasm and I feel confident in the ability of the Iraqi doctors and the Ministry of Health to care for their people.”
"We wanted to provide a training program for physicians in Basrah so they can, in turn, train other physicians, nurses and midwives in neonatal resuscitation techniques," said Brockbank. "It's been very rewarding being able to provide a program that can continue when we move on. It will be very beneficial to the people, especially the infants born in Basrah."
"This training will benefit our whole pediatric staff, so they know better how to assist the doctors and care for the babies in [case of] complications,” said Dr. Ghufran, a female pediatrician at the hospital. “The babies don't depend only on the doctors for survival; they depend on the whole [medical] staff."
"I became a doctor to help people and save lives,” said Dr. Ayssar, a pediatric resident. “In Iraq, we have many complications in post-deliveries. Many babies end up [having] cerebral palsy, are paralyzed or die because of birth asphyxia. This training will help us prevent these things from happening; to help [ensure] healthier futures [and] save the lives of infants."
(By Sgt. Rodney Foliente, 4th Infantry Division)
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