Will this little Iraqi girl lose her sight?

This little Iraqi girl might lose the sight in one eye after it became infected following an operation.
Her mother said the local eye doctor had left the rural area south of Baghdad where the family lives and there is no other specialist clinic or hospital she can visit safely.
She brought 9-year-old Nihad Jabouri to a make-shift US medical post set up without warning (to prevent insurgent attacks) in a village in Arab Jabour one morning this month.
Unfortunately the head nurse lacked the skill and equipment to treat the girl himself but promised to mention her plight to some military doctors back in Baghdad. I don’t know what became of Nihad.
Others who turned up to the temporary clinic – erected in a bid to win the community's trust – had better luck.

Isra Selman Jabouri (the Jabouri tribe is particularly numerous in this part of Iraq and I bumped into many people who shared the same family name), also aged 9, had a fever and a headache.
Captain Ricardo Swenness, the head nurse, gave some antibiotics to her mother, 40-year-old Souhaya, and also some advice on what to do to help bring her daughter’s temperature down.
Marwan Faisal Mezhir, 19, said his three-year-old brother Tarik had an upset stomach.
“The American medic just told me to keep him at home and assured me that it was nothing serious,” Mr Mezhir said.
Keen to help the children in the village become more hygienic, the US soldiers also dished out toothbrushes to about 20 youngsters who swarmed around their stall. Unfortunately the plan was slightly flawed because they lacked any accompanying toothpaste.
Apparently an order for both items had been made but the brushes turned up first.
The children were clearly disappointed, waving their redundant plastic sticks around in the air and pointing at the bushy end to show that they wanted a dollop of Colgate as well.
Three little girls turned to me to see if I could help. Alas I had left my flossing gear back at the military base where I was staying.
Bored with the toothbrushes, they asked me if I could give them some chocolate instead.
US troops have had some success in winning the confidence of members of the community by pushing out into previously unexplored neighbourhoods as part of President Bush’s surge plan.
However, many Iraqis refuse to believe that the American presence will stay for very long.
These people remain fearful of offering up tips on where they know insurgents have placed roadside bombs because they fear being killed once the US troops leave.
“I cannot help the coalition because I worry that the soldiers will leave and the terrorists will come back to kill me,” said Mokdat Ahmed Shahib, a 40-year-old security guard in the village.

Picture 1: Nihad Jabouri, aged 9, has an infected eye
Picture 2: Captain Ricardo Swenness checks the ear of Isra Selman Jabouri, aged 9
Picture 3: Tarik Mezhir, aged 3, and a much larger US soldier
Picture 4: Marwan Faisal Mezhir asks Cpt Swenness about his younger brother's stomach

Comments

[Frank Staheli]

These are the kinds of problems the Americans are trying to help the Iraqis solve, so that they can live in peace and plenty as many in the western world do.

It is unfortunate when al Qaeda terrorists create such problems (striking the fear of an apostate Allah into the hearts of Iraqis so that no one dares provide medical or other services) and George Bush is blamed for it.

I pray for Nihad Jabouri and all Iraqis that they will soon be able to live in peace, health, and prosperity.

[georg]

Check out www.seeintl.org

[Peter42y]

No follow up of this sad story ?

[killthewar]

I personally do not think that this is the real reason behind having the troops in Iraq. George Bush is only blamed for his lack of judgement, his selfishness and inefficiency! It is absolutely horrible to realize that after all, this poor little girl loosing her sight is not the worse thing that happens to people in Iraq, soldiers or not. Some die! Some stay scared for the rest of their lives and are tortured on both sides. Worst of all, our troops come back to the US and are denied health care and support standing most of the time on the only leg they have left! Talk about patriotism! Bush is more than happy to send troops in Iraq to protect the oil, let them die and then ignore those who come back! I say we send Bush to Iraq for a year and that he HAS TO fight along with our troops instead of being a coward and hide behind lies!

[killthewar]

What's best? Loosing your sight or your life? If Bush was more concerned about well being rather than oil!