Iraq: UN health agency rushes medical, psychological aid for stampede victims

The United Nations health agency is working closely with the Iraqi health ministry and other partners to avert more deaths among the wounded and help alleviate suffering and mental trauma after the stampede on a bridge in Baghdad two days ago which killed up to 1,000 people and injured hundreds more.

Beyond emergency health kits containing essential life-saving supplies, oxygen cylinders and emergency medicines already delivered, the UN World Health Organization (WHO) is helping to compile a list of health professionals who can help provide emergency psychosocial support.

In the next 10 days, medical students, qualified nurses, university nursing students, teachers, doctors, other workers in primary health-care centres and religious leaders will be recruited to go through a one-day training course and provide first aid psychosocial support, with WHO support.

The agency is providing the booklet “Fundamentals of Psychosocial Support and First Aid for Survivors of Trauma” to help train those who will visit survivors and their families in hospital wards.

Those who need it can be prescribed medicines such as diazepam and home visits to the traumatized families will be facilitated by trained Ministry of Health staff, the Geneva-based WHO said in a news release.

WHO has already helped to deliver emergency supplies of oxygen to nine hospitals. Every day, each hospital will receive 100 cylinders, enough to help 2,700 people daily. WHO is also purchasing $50,000 worth of drugs and medical supplies, including anaesthetics, IV fluids, sutures and anti-tetanus sera. Some items arrived yesterday and more are expected in the coming days.