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[Wise] Healthcare in Iraq ranks among the bottom third of all countries in the world.
With help from soldiers of the 547th Medical Company,
the Baghdad Provincial Reconstruction Team looks to change that.
The first step is the Over the Shoulder training program.
This class takes recent Iraqi medical school graduates
and lets them get hands-on practice while US medics advise and assist.
All we're trying to do is that we're trying to show them different ways to do things.
And it's our hope, as the new generation comes on
and they see places to make improvement within the Iraqi health system,
that they will think back and say, "Oh, I remember seeing this program
"in this place." [Wise] This two-week long program hopes to
build the future of Iraq by focusing on training younger Iraqi physicians.
It's a tremendous partnership that I've really tried to take ownership of
and been very supportive of and actively engaged daily in
and working with the PRT team to work with these guys
because I see this helping down the road. These are young physicians, and they can take
these things and tools that we've provided them and use
them throughout their lifetime. [Wise] Each day of training is an example
of the strong partnership between the US forces and the Iraqi people.
For most, this is the first time the Iraqi doctors have met face-to-face
with a member of the US forces. That exchange does nothing but bring us closer
together, breaks down barriers and allows us to see
each other as we really are. [Wise] So far, 30 doctors graduated the Over
the Shoulder program and share what they have learned with their
fellow physicians. I'm Specialist Ben Wise, Forward Operating
Base Prosperity, Iraq. [♪upbeat music♪] That's the Army Today,
Washington.