NY Times: Chaos and War Leave Iraq's Hospitals in Ruins

[La_Serpiente]

Chaos and War Leave Iraq's Hospitals in Ruins

BAGHDAD, Iraq, Feb. 13 — At Baghdad's Central Teaching Hospital for Children, gallons of raw sewage wash across the floors. The drinking water is contaminated. According to doctors, 80 percent of patients leave with infections they did not have when they arrived.

Doctors say they have been beaten up in the emergency room. Blood is in such short supply that physicians often donate their own to patients lying in front of them.

"The word `big' is not enough to express the disaster we are facing," said Ahmed A. Muhammad, the hospital's assistant manager.

To be sure, Iraq's hospitals were in bleak shape before the American-led invasion last year. International isolation and the sanctions imposed after Iraq's invasion of Kuwait in 1990 had already shattered a public health care system that was once the jewel of the Middle East. Crucial machines stopped working. Drugs were in short supply.

Conditions eased a bit once the United Nations oil-for-food program started in 1996, but the country still suffered, especially the children.

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Chaos and War Leave Iraq's Hospitals in Ruins

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[madrchsod]

1. really isn`t amazing

that we destroyed a public health system as good as any in the world for what? to "fire" saddam because george the lesser was told to by the saudi`s? or maybe the israeli`s. i have read some medical journals with stories of what has happened..it is truly insane

[G_j]

2. one word comes to mind

CRIMINAL

So horrendously sad. Did this have to happen? Of course not!

[oasis]

3. Not good at all. A terrible situation. (eom)