The WHO and other organizations try to treat patients and people sustaining wounds as a result of the war between government forces and ISIS militants in field hospitals near the front, many of them however need to be transferred to Erbil, capital of the Kurdistan Region.
“Trauma casualty rates remain high near frontline areas, with many trauma cases requiring referral from Mosul to Erbil in northern Iraq.” WHO says in a statement.
According to the organization, from the start of the Mosul offensive on October 17 until January 18, “1610 wounded civilians were sent to Erbil’s 2 main hospitals to receive trauma care.”
Many hospitals in Mosul have suffered extensive damage and are no longer able to provide health services to the general population and to civilians injured.” WHO reported. “Without these services, patients are experiencing serious complications, and in some cases death.”
A report by the organization says: “To fully support the health needs resulting from the Mosul operation, WHO requires a total of US$ 65 million of which US$ 14 million (21%) has been received.”
Iraqi troops supported by Peshmerga and coalition forces launched an offensive to retake Mosul from ISIS during which many civilians have lost their lives due to bombardment or deliberate ISIS attacks.
The world health organization believes that “a patient’s chance of survival is greatly increased if they receive medical care within an hour of injury – known as the “golden hour”.”
It explains in a statement that: “To fill this gap, WHO and partners have established a 50-bed field hospital, with two operating rooms, in Bartella, eastern Mosul to treat severely injured patients with gunshot wounds, mine and shell injuries, and other injuries.”
Health officials in the Kurdistan Region have long complained that their hospitals are overwhelmed by the number of civilian cases brought to them from the frontlines, while urging the central government in Baghdad to shoulder some of the burden.
To this end, the WHO has brought to the frontlines health staff of various specializations, including surgeons and nurses to treat the wounded near the front.
The organization reported on Sunday that: “Three additional field hospitals with a capacity of 40–50 beds will be established soon to support access to trauma care to the west and south of Mosul. Each hospital will be handed over to the Ministry of Health after six months to scale-up national capacity for trauma care services in the country.”
WHO pushes for further funds for its field hospitals because it believes the drive to the nearest hospital in Erbil could make a difference between life and death.
“These hospitals will fill a critical gap, as trauma patients are currently transported to referral hospitals in Erbil, northern Iraq, a one- to 2-hour drive away,” it reports. “To ensure that these patients have a greater chance of survival during their journey, 4 trauma stabilization points are currently operational, with additional points planned along referral routes.”
