Iraqi Kurdistan: Medical Supplies Needed
The government of Iraqi
Below is an article published by Reuters:
The semi-autonomous government of Kurdistan, in northern
"With the current situation in the south of
In the appeal, Younis talked of the relative peace and booming economy in the three provinces that make up Kurdistan and praised the region as "a bright spot in the present and future of
Younis added that many of the region's 48 hospitals and 672 primary health care centres lack the basic medicines and medical supplies needed to treat wounds or provide basic care.
"Our children suffer from one of the world's highest rates of heart disease and leukemia and we lack the facilities to treat them here in
Insurgents disrupting deliveries
"The road networks, especially in central
"We asked the cabinet many times to provide protection for our convoys to reach all provinces, but no one has responded to us," he added.
Lack of medical skills
In addition to medical supplies not reaching the north, Younis said that the specialists were unable to travel to the region to provide essential training to medical staff there.
"Our doctors and nurses do what they can but a lack of educational services for nursing staff and medical technicians and specialist training for our doctors is a serious concern," he said.
The lack of supplies and expertise is causing many easily preventable deaths. Three months ago, Zainab Fakhir Ali, 33, lost her son three days after she gave birth in a Sulaimaniyah hospital, east
"He suffered problems in his respiratory system so they put him in a premature babies section without giving him treatment. They said they lacked appropriate medical equipment," Zainab said. "They told us to take him to neighbouring countries so we decided to take him to
While a far cry from the mayhem and bloodshed that typify a day in the Iraqi capital,
Since then, following a popular uprising against Saddam's government,