Mosul – To strengthen government-run health facilities in the wake of the Mosul crisis, IOM Iraq has donated medical equipment and supplies valued at approximately USD 500,000 to Al-Salam Teaching Hospital in east Mosul.

The equipment was funded by the United Kingdom Department for International Development (DFID) and the Government of Kuwait.

The Ninewa Governorate’s Department of Health coordinated the donation and nominated Al-Salam Teaching Hospital in east Mosul to receive the supplies, due to the hospital’s increased patient load following the influx of returning displaced persons and high numbers of vulnerable host community members. The donation aims to contribute to the stabilization of communities in east Mosul. Click here to watch a video on the equipment donation: https://youtu.be/VavkUHa1sB8 

Prior to the handover in October, the equipment and consumables were used in IOM’s field hospital in Hammam al-Alil, about 30 km south of Mosul. Since its establishment in March 2017, a few months into the battle to retake Mosul from ISIL, IOM’s field hospital in Hammam al-Alil played a critical role in providing emergency care and treating patients displaced from conflict zones, mainly West Mosul.

Between March and September 2017, IOM’s field hospital in Hammam al-Alil served approximately 9,300 outpatients and admitted 664 cases for non-trauma and trauma surgeries, including injuries and fractured limbs sustained as result of the conflict.

The medical equipment and supplies donated to Al-Salam Hospital include: operating tables, anesthesia machine, ventilators, medical monitors, infusion pumps, heart defibrillators, hospital-grade autoclave sterilizers, patient trollies, X-ray machines, laboratory equipment, and consumable medical supplies.

“It was the right time to carry out this upgrade, which will double the capacity of the hospital to deliver health services,” said Dr. Sangar Perdawed, IOM Iraq’s National Emergency Health Coordinator. “This donation is part of IOM’s capacity building activities, which strengthen government-run health centres to better serve all patients.”

“This is the only intensive care unit (ICU) currently operational in Mosul,” said Dr. Raad Abdulhady, Manager of Al-Salam Hospital. Referring to the defibrillator and medical monitors that will be installed in the ICU, he added, “We needed the donated equipment; it will contribute to saving lives, whether in operating theatres, intensive care or emergency units.”

The original Al-Salam building – once Mosul’s main hospital – was severely damaged almost a year ago, during military operations to retake the eastern part of the city.  The hospital reopened in March 2017 in a nearby East Mosul location. It has a capacity of 150 beds.

According to Dr. Abdulhady, between 450 to 500 patients currently visit the hospital daily, mainly for orthopaedic, cardiac and internal medicine, and injuries, many from road traffic accidents. Patients receive treatment free of charge.

In addition to the upgrades in Al-Salam Hospital, IOM Iraq has recently donated consumable supplies and medical equipment valued at approximately USD70,000 to other health facilities throughout the country.  The beneficiary health facilities include Raparen Teaching Hospital, Rizgary Teaching Hospital, Nanakali Hospital, Razhan Clinic, Hawler Teaching Hospital, West Emergency Hospital, East Emergency Hospital (all in Erbil Governorate); and Al-Areage Primary Health Care Center in Mosul and the health clinic in Gwer. 

Dr. Ibrahim Khalil, the Medical Supplies Manager at Rizgary Hospital said: “Every day, we perform more than 50 surgeries in three operating rooms; the availability of intravenous fluid for these surgeries is crucial. Our hospital provides services to the local communities, displaced Iraqis and Syrian refugees alike, free of charge.” He added, “These are essential life-saving supplies. Shortages due to the current financial situation have placed a high burden on the hospital, but the supplies we have just received will cover for at least 200 major operations and 100 minor interventions. 

For more information please contact:  Sandra Black, IOM Iraq; Tel: +964 751 234 2550, Email: sblack@iom.int