Report on the health field projects of Al-Amal association till the end of 2006

Report on the health field projects of Al-Amal association till the end of 2006

The health sector in Iraq due to wars suffered a severe shortage in medicines and medical supplies, in addition to authorities’ negligence to all sectors of services, infrastructure and health in particular.

Starting off its long experience in health sector work , Al-Amal association adopted many projects to reduce peoples’ suffering, especially women and children in distant villages , and providing them with health services .The program was able to access the closed areas due to tribal costumes , forming strong relations with locals, delivering them treatment services, developing their health , environmental and social standers , maintaining their needs, and performing other projects such as supplying of drinking water, starting literacy classes ,and lobbying on authorities to improve the conditions of medical centers there .

Through the abovementioned program, the relationship consolidated among the association and the medical institution in the governorates and Ministry of health, therefore the association was the only NGO invited in mid September 2004 to attend a workshop dedicated to put executive and strategic policy to raise the health of mother and birth health in Iraq, which took place in Sulymania city. One of the doctors in the Mobil clinics participated on behalf of the association in a medical cadre development workshop, organized in Amman in late 2004, by an invitation request from the world health organization and ministry of health, the association also participated in the annual conference of ministry of health that took place in Erbil in 2005.

Al-Amal Mobile Clinics program:

Clinic duties:

· Providing medical services for women and children, performing necessary lab examinations, and delivering free of charge medicines.

· Pursuing vaccination operations of women and children, and identifying those who did not receive them.

· Assigning a specialized doctor in every school to educate students and teachers on health care.

· Using the Mobile clinic vehicle in transporting emergency cases (injuries cases and birth) to the nearest hospitals in the region, in addition to doctor’s transportation to schools, where he gives lectures on health education.

· Organizing workshops to train midwives with coordination of local health institutes, and teaching them the new safe birth methods to prevent any bad consequences.

· Developing relations among the locals and medical centres in their regions.

· Enforcing and strengthening coordination between the Mobil clinic team and the working cadre in the medical centres.

· Work in the clinic starts from 8:30 A.M and ends at 1:00 P.M , 3 days a week , the mentioned method was applied in all clinics ,with exception to Babel Mobil clinic ,where work took place in daily bases.

· Organizing seminars about pregnancy and breastfeeding as natural nursing for babies, anaemia, importance of health care and vaccine and other related subject to pregnancy and oral hydration for children’s

Al-Amal Mobile Clinic in Erbil:

Work started in the first Mobil clinic (for pregnancy) in the villages of Erbil governorate in the 7th of April 2003, following the end of war immediately, in order to provide primary health care to pregnant women in cases of emergency. The clinic provided services to more than 1000 women .The program was successful not only by the number of people advantaging from it ,but by achieving the most essential goal which was spreading health awareness among them, and the role of NGOs in the development and relief operations. Moreover the clinic provided services to many non pregnant women and sick children. The association also donated large quantity of medicines of chronic diseases, children medicines, and other forms of donations. At the end of the project in the 6th of May 2003, the association organized a workshop that was attended by several administrative members in Iraqi Al-Amal association, and a representative from the sponsor organization, to evaluate the project. We can say that the project achieved more than its’ original goal through providing medical services to people in need and improving hard conditions.

Al-Amal Mobile Clinic in Babel:

Iraqi Al-Amal association started it Mobil clinics in Babel in the 10th of November 2003 in 3 areas as follows:

1- Al-tofeel Area: work lasted 10 weeks

2- Abo Sameech Area: work lasted 5 weeks.

3- Dohan market: work lasted 7 weeks.

· The number of patients treated in the Mobil clinics in Babel were 9219 patients , women and children , a large number of people made advantage indirectly from the clinic through the clinic awareness campaigns and spreading health education and care information between the locals.

· 1175 women were vaccinated from tetanus and 985 children under 5 years against tetanus and hepatitis.

· 1291 cases received medical examination and tested in the attached lab of the clinic.

· 259 school students were treated mostly from trachoma, and a campaign was launched in schools to aware students against lice and treatment.

· Work ended in March 2004.

Al-Amal Mobile Clinic in Diyala:

Work started in the mobile clinic of Diyala governorate in the 17th of March 2004, in the village of Ahmad Kalaf in Kana’an region and the neighboring villages as a work region. The population were 7000 citizens, the medical center lacked for the necessary equipments of primary medical treatment, the road was not paved, the majority of children in the region were not vaccinated due to distant medical institutes, and women suffered from anemia, the working team also noticed lack for drinking water , water networks were outdated for the past 14 years ,blackout continues 23 hours a day and sometimes for 8 days.

· Services were provided for 2460 patients plus indirect advantage for the clinic through awareness campaigns.

· Organizing lectures on health care , awareness on cleaning and prevention of diseases , treating tumors and it’s counter action, preventing infection among family members , precaution from anemia through dietary supplements and eating healthy foods , and the importance of mother and child vaccination.

· Daily lectures against diarrhea and the healthy nutrition for patients suffering from it.

· The team visited only 2 schools and 30 students were treated and added to the total number of beneficiaries.

· A seminar for teachers was organized (only 6 teachers attended.)

· Agreements were taken for arranging a workshop for midwives. They were supplied with necessary equipments for their work as gloves and cotton.

· One woman in the village was trained on shooting injections and measuring pressure. She was then a helpful element in the clinic.

· Work ended in june2004.

Al-Amal Mobile Clinic In Kut:

Work started in November the 1st 2004, and the suburb al-jihad ally was chosen in Kut city for the work of the 3rd Mobil clinic according to the survey of al-amal team, as health awareness there was very weak, moreover due to lack for medicines. After a while the team moved to Zein Alkaus region, due to its lack for healthcare, and for a medical center, as locals were forced to travel to neighboring regions for treatment. 150 cases were daily tested, and through the mentioned period the following took place:

· Organizing lectures for women awareness on breastfeeding and oral hydration for children.

· Organizing workshops for 2 weeks to 12 midwives in the region, to evaluate there experience and knowledge.

· Total numbers of beneficiaries were 11332 including women and children, plus the indirect beneficiaries.

· School health education and awareness were taught steadily, and 172 (6 – 7 year old students) in 10 schools were treated and added to the total number of beneficiaries.

· 574 cases received medical examination and tested in the attached lab of the clinic.

· Work ended in July 2005.

Al-Amal Mobil Clinic in Dewaniya:

Work started in the 4th of April 2005 in Diwaniya governorate , and took place at Al-Shanafia region , Algaiem and Al-negaisha due to high population , about 56000 people, health standers there were very weak, moreover the lack for medicines , and low efficiency of the local medical center.

1-Al-shnafia region: work started in the 4th of April till the 30th of September 2005

2- Algaiem region : work started from August till 31st of December 2005

3- Aal-negaisha region: work started from the 1st of October till the 31st of December 2005

· 70 patients were tested daily in the clinic.

· Iraqi Al- Amal association reconstructed the medical center in Al-shnafia, and furnished it.

· Organizing lectures for women awareness on breastfeeding and oral hydration for children, monitoring children’s temperature, water sterilization, vaccination of child and mother, periodical check up for pregnant women.

· Total number of beneficiaries was 11160 cases, plus indirect beneficiaries.

· 560 cases received medical examination and tested in the attached lab of the clinic.

· Work ended in December 2005.

Al-Amal Mobile Clinic in Al-anbar:

Work started in September 2005, Al-anbar was chosen for the grave damage in its community by the armed conflicts, which made its medical institutes lack sharply for necessary health services.

· The project started providing medical and health services and health care education to women and children in Al-Karabla and Huseba near the Iraqi-Syrian borders ,the population were about 65 000 people.

· 70 patients were tested daily in the clinic.

· Increasing awareness on health care was one of the project major goals by organizing lectures for women awareness on breastfeeding and oral hydration for children, monitoring children’s temperature, and water sterilization, vaccination of child and mother, and periodical check up for mother during pregnancy.

· Total number of beneficiaries till the end of December 2006 were 14739 including women and children, plus the indirect beneficiaries.

· 2227 cases received medical examination and tested in the attached lab of the clinic.

· The association donated medical equipments and chairs for disabled patients for Al-Gaeem general hospital, plus mattresses and 14 first aid pharmacy cabinets filled with accessories to the local area schools.

TABLE ON THE MOBIL CLINICS BENIFICARIANS IN THE FOLLOWING GOVERNORTES:

N	governorate	Beneficiaries ( women )	Beneficiaries (children )	Duration	lab	Total no.
1	Erbil	1038	204	April 2003   to   May 2003	——–	1242
2	Babylon	5134	4085	November  2003 to   March 2004	1291	10510
3	Diala	1259	1201	March 2004   to  June 2004	——–	2460
4	Al-kut	4742	6590	September 2004  to   July  2005	574	11906
5	Diwaniya	5585	5026	April 2005  to  December 2005	560	11171
6	Anbar	6804	7935	September 2005  to  31st  ofOctober 2006	2227	16966
	TOTAL	24562	25041	About 40 months	4652	54255

The most common diseases treated in the Mobile clinic in the different regions were:

• Bronchitis, tonsillitis and sore throats.
• Anemia.
• Malnutrition
• Vaginal infections.
• Allergies and respiratory track infections..
• Typhoid fever/
• Skin infections, eczema.
• Trachoma, eye infections.
• Urinary track infections. Despite the fact that financing the Mobil clinics projects was very limited, the association applied a rationalization policy of expenses that succeeded in expanding the project into 5 Mobil clinics in 5 governorates. The international donor’s organizations:
• Norwegian people add NPA
• The Greek committee for international democratic solidarity EEDDA.
• The world pharmacist in Catalonia –Spain.

Al-Amal Clinic in Erbil:

In April 1993 Iraqi al-amal association opened a clinic in Erbil in Setakan ally in the city of Erbil, and it is still opened on daily basis, the clinic provides health care, especially to women and children, moreover to the campaigns on awareness and vaccination, it did a small variety of procedures. The clinic charges little fees to keep its’ subjective financing. it received about 5000 patients monthly .in 29th of April 2006 physical therapy and Chinese needles unites were opened.

TABLE of Erbil clinic beneficiaries from the 1st of January to the 31st of December 2006

Details	No. of Patients
Gynecologist unit	35504
Laboratory Test  unit	15657
Internist, pediatrician unit	8901
Ultra Sound unit	16747
Physical therapy	431
Bandaging	3416
total	80656

The medical sponsorship program for disabled children’s:

It is a sustainable medical program which provides medicines donated by number of Italian families to children suffering from chronic diseases and sever illness as Thelasemia, cancer, diabetic, neuroatrophy, and hormonal imbalance.

The work on the program started in 1994 by Italian organization (bridge to … Un Ponte Per)

Which entered in a partnership with Al-Amal association in 2004, now we have 90 patients making advantage of the program , the association examine them periodically, detect there needs of medicines ,medical care ,equipments , as sugar test , nebuliser

 , wheel chairs, medical sticks, follow up with their families to check their psychological and emotional conditions and troubles; more than 20 of them need surgical treatment outside Iraq.

Healthcare awareness project for women and children in Al-Najaf:

The project targeted the improvement of women and children health services provided in Al-huria region in Al-Njaf governorate ,it targeted more than 1000 women in 20 villages .the project took place with the coordination of health department in Al-Njaf and primary healthcare department:

·   In the 20th of December 2003 Al-Amal  started  training workshops  for the development of community sharing in improvement of health services for women and children in Al-huria region for 1 week , followed by an organized field survey by IAA for the project ,evaluation of problems , obstacles , suggestions and their solutions in a specifies time period .3 teams were formed to solve certain problems in the area , including health and community cadre ,of teachers and civil workers ,to achieve the following :

Team 1:  to solve the low rate of pregnant mothers visiting healthcare unite

Team 2: to solve low rate of vaccination in less than 5 year old children

Team 3: to solve high rate of anemia patients in pregnant women visiting the healthcare unit.

·   Through the first half of 2004, the 3 teams achieved their plans and field activities ,in addition to starting a photographic gallery focusing on pregnant mothers and their  nutrition , agricultural giddiness and proper use of insecticides , agricultural pests that effect environment, medicine donation    ( vials and tablets of birth control ) ,for family organization program ,and pregnant women anemia treatment , with newly born clothes.

·   The project was supervised by specialized doctors in health care and community health, receiving a lot of help from ministry of health, and the Christian aid organization sponsoring the project.

·   The project started after evaluation workshop from the 9th   – 10th of July 2004.

Water treatment plant  project :

·   Through the implemented survey of IAA in Al-Najaf, we discovered that water pollution was the major diseases source in the area. A water treatment plant was established in the Al-Huria region of Najaf Governorate with a capacity of 50 cubic meters/ hour. It supplied water to 6 villages in Al-aside area and neighbouring areas (about 400 houses). The project was supported by Christian Aid-UK and completed in April 2005.

Distribution of medical help in Al-Najaf:

In June 2003 Iraqi Al-Amal association distributed large quantities and different kinds of  medicines and medical supplies to medical centers and institutes:

·   Community medical clinic in Al-Najaf

·   Primary healthcare center in Al-Abasia.

·   The general marketing company of medicine and medical supplies

·   Medical center in Al-baher

·   Medical center in Al-hyria

·   Primary healthcare center in Al-Anssar ally

Water purification in health institutes in Al-Najaf:

During July and August ,Al-Amal Installed a purification units (R.O) in the delivery center of Najaf Hospital and several health centers in the rural areas of Najaf. 8 units of  25 liter capacity were installed , in addition to 3000 liter unit was installed  in the delivery center and laboratory of Najaf Hospital

Healthcare awareness, legal and community services for country women in Salah Al-deen governorate project:

 The project started in august 2006 ,for 3 months ,with 150 women as beneficiaries from villages ,to educate them on health ,community and psychological care ,for mother and child ,environmental education , telling them on there legal and civil rights ,especially civil affairs law ,importance of education and learning and literacy , providing economical security ,the program covered 3 villages on the suburbs of Tekret , villages of Al-debsa ,Al-aly and Always Al- thory ,

Maternity Hospital in Erbil

·   Iraqi Al-Amal, with support from the EC and Secours Populaire Francais, has completed the construction of a 50 bed Maternity hospital in Erbil. Other facilities include 3 operation rooms, Gynecology and Pediatrics polyclinic, three operating theatres, Laboratory and Radiology units and pharmacy. The hospital was handed over to the local government in June 2005 as donation to ministry of health in Kurdistan.

Emergency centre clinic for Palestinians:

Al-Amal in 2006 financed a medical equipment and medicines support for teaching and reforming Palestinian children association in Iraq, by establishing a medical centre for emergency cases in the apartment buildings for Palestinians in Iraq in Al-Baladiat in Baghdad after they become a target to sectarian violence

Various health campaigns:

·   In 2002 implementation of health awareness and environmental education for children and locals in rular remote villages in Erbil governorate.

·   In 2003 launching a first aid program, with the participation of 200 male and female youth in Daratoo centre in Erbil.

·   In 2006 launching   a campaign respecting awareness of bird flu in coordination  with health department in Al-Najf and the veteran hospital ,and Al-Dewanyia health department , it symptoms ,precaution ,in 8 regions in rular areas in Al-Najf and Al-Dewanyia that covered ( Al-Mahnawia ,Al-Shameia ,Abo-Tmeer ,Abo –Garb,and Tober saied jawad)

·   In 2006 IAA launched surgical operations on sever 2nd degree burns , first in February for child Alaa husan from Al-Jhadd ally in Baghdad and second in march for Ms. Athra Mohamed , from Camp Sara in Baghdad.

·   In September 2006 the association distributed donation to the league of humanity supporters against cancer diseases in Basra, to buy Medicine to 20 cancer victims from children

·   A financial donation was given to Ms. Eman abd al-huseen jawad , who was 33 years old and live in Al-qadsia ally in Baghdad to do a kidney transplant in Alkrama hospital.

The most important problems facing our health programes:

·   Short expiry dates of donated medicines from international organizations

·   The doctors has no updates on new drugs which lead to neglecting some of the donated medicines due to ignorance of its effect or brands are new and unknown to them

· Ignorance and underdevelopment of the locals

· Bad security conditions which effect transporting medical supplies to clinics