Social-sanitary help for the children of Bassora
Location: Bassora
Duration: Il progetto avrà la durata di 12 months
Beneficiaries: -350 children, patients in the pediatrics ward of the Maternity Hospital in Bassora
-20 workers at the Maternity Hospital
-the families of the patients
Context: Bassora (Al Basra) is the second biggest city of Iraq in terms of scale and population ( 1,377,000 inhabitants in 2003).
A long period of embargo has caused a lack of medicine and a turnover of medical and paramedical staff, which has had negative consequences on the region’s sanitary condition specifically affecting children. 4% of the children suffer from under-nourishment. Infant mortality rate can reach up to 107 out of 1000, while for children under five it is about 131 out of 1000. 70% of the infant mortalities are due to the very poor quality of water and to the lack of necessary treatments, even within the family.
Maternity Hospital in Bassora
The pediatrics ward of the Maternity Hospital in Bassora, managed by Iraqi Mezzaluna Rossa together with Save the Children and UNICEF, deals with the admission of serious cases.
Some diseases once eradicated ( for example poliomyelitis) have reappeared and there is an increase of degenerative diseases, particularly leukaemia and in the liver, kidneys and blood tumours; moreover there is a diffusion of genetic malformations, probably caused by the use of depleted uranium (300 ton) during the war. There is a large increase in behavioural disorders and mental deficiency cases among children.
Objective: The main aim of project is to improve of the quality of life for those children suffering from serious pathologies and malnutrition.
The specific aims are:
-to provide psychological support for young patients in the Maternity Hospital through games and recreational activities.
-to promote the prevention of the pathologies and to provide aid for undernourished children with the help of the family and of the community.
Actions: -The building of a nursery school and a recreation centre in the Maternity Hospital of Bassora.
The hospital’s direction has chosen two rooms for these services.
The project’s intention is to fill the two rooms with basic furniture, as well as recreational and didactic materials and games for one year’s activities.
Two workers will be assigned to the nursery and three to the game room.
-Training and assistance for the local operators.
An Italian educator will help the local staff for two months, taking care of their training and of the organization of services.
Cofunding: Marche Region, the province of Bologna, Uisp National Committee, Uisp Territorial committee of Firenze, cities of Trento, Latina and Ancona.
Current cofunding situation: | Total: 35000 €
Actual: 29000 € |
Uisp Collaboration: Uisp National Management.
Partner: Italian Association of Solidarity (ICS), “Un ponte per..” Association.
News: Due to the country’s security conditions, the presence of our staff in Bassora is not possible at the moment. The project has been interrupted, and we are waiting for a better situation.
