BAQOUBA, Iraq - Iraqi Security Forces, Coalition Forces and Iraqi government officials delivered essential medical equipment to Baqouba General Hospital July 9.

Dr. Molallah Homm, deputy governor of health for Diyala Province, coordinated the distribution with assistance from Iraqi Army soldiers, Iraqi police and CF Soldiers from 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division.

The group delivered 10 defibrillators to the Baqouba General Hospital's emergency room, as well as 25 infant warmers and 15 fetal heart monitors to the Al Batol Women's and Children's Clinic.

Prior to the arrival of the new equipment, the emergency room had only one working defibrillator.

The deliveries were part of a larger distribution of medical equipment and medicines that will occur throughout Diyala over the next several weeks. The equipment was among other needed supplies, equipment and medicines brought to Baqouba from Baghdad in two shipments on June 20 and July 4.

The deliveries were made in the wake of Operation Arrowhead Ripper, which has improved security in Baqouba enough to allow the local government to safely transport supplies to hospitals throughout Diyala.

"With increased security, hospitals are able to finally receive life-saving medical supplies and Iraqi physicians are more likely to return to provide care for the Iraqi people," said Lt. Col. Thomas Rogers, division surgeon of 25th Infantry Division.

Since the beginning of Operation Arrowhead Ripper, at least 60 al-Qaida operatives have been killed, 222 have been detained, 56 weapons caches have been discovered, 127 improvised explosive devices have been destroyed and 24 booby-trapped structures have been destroyed.

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