  |
||||
Breaking News from America's Progressive Community... Latest Releases
The press releases posted here have been provided to NewsCenter by the one of the many progressive organizations we have selected to participate. If you would like more information about this press release, you should contact the organization directly. |
||||
| NOVEMBER 9, 1998 2:56 PM FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CONTACT: American Friends Service Committee Carl Maugeri 215 241-7060 |
||||
| American Friends Service Committee Sends Medical Delegation to Iraq | ||||
| A
team of physicians will study health effects of sanctions on children and open a dialogue
with Iraqi doctors on impact of "intellectual" sanctions on hospitals, medical
centers. Team will carry donated children's medical kits. PHILADELPHIA - November 9 - The American Friends Service Committee is sending a team of physicians on a 12-day visit to Iraq to see firsthand the effect of sanctions on the health of mothers and children there. The delegation also will meet with doctors and health care professionals denied access to new medical information by the sanctions and assess the impact of the "intellectual" embargo on health care treatment. The group of five doctors and AFSC staff members will travel between November 6-18. The team will first go to New York on November 5 for a briefing at the UN before boarding a plane for Amman, Jordan and arriving in Baghdad, Iraq, November 9. (see itinerary below)) According to a UNICEF report (Situation Analysis of Children and Women in Iraq, April 30, 1998) about 90,000 deaths per year (more than 250 people per day) result from sanctions. The increase in mortality reported in public hospitals for children under five years of age - an excess of some 40,000 deaths yearly compared with 1989 - is mainly due to diarrhea, pneumonia and malnutrition related to sanctions. Dr. Joseph Wray, a pediatrician from Medford, New Jersey, and member of the delegation, said it was important for the AFSC medical team to make personal contact with Iraqi doctors. "We want to get a feel for the most pressing needs there and then explore ways that we can help. We want to show some solidarity with the medical community there," he said. The team will also oversee distribution of over 5,000 children's health kits collected by the AFSC from Quaker meetings around the country and from other interested supporters. The kits contain children's aspirin, vitamins, bandages and other health items and a small stuffed animal or toy. ##### The American Friends Service Committee is a Quaker organization which includes people of various faiths who are committed to social justice, peace and humanitarian service. Its work is based on the belief in the worth of every person and faith in the power of love to overcome violence and injustice.
AFSC Medical Delegation to Iraq Itinerary Nov. 5: Morning -- Arrive in Philadelphia for orientation Nov. 6: Morning -- Meetings with United Nations officials Nov. 7: Afternoon -- Arrive in Amman, Jordan Nov. 8: Visit MECC and collect visas Nov. 9: Departure for Baghdad, Iraq Nov. 10: Begin meetings with UN and Iraqi officials Nov. 11: Baghdad -- Sheikh Omar Health Center Nov. 12: Morning -- Depart for Basrah Nov. 13: Morning -- Depart for al-Nasariyyah Nov. 14: Morning -- Depart for al-Najaf Nov. 15: Morning -- Depart for Baghdad Nov. 16: Morning -- Depart for Amman, Jordan. Nov. 17: Amman -- debriefing and assessment Nov. 18: Depart for New York |
||||