Iraqi Nurses and Paramedics Complete AUBMC Training

Iraqi Paramedics on the training scene

On March 16, a group of Iraqi paramedics and nurses completed a two-week Emergency Health Rehabilitation Program at the American University of Beirut Medical Center (AUBMC) after undergoing their last hands-on exercise in a training program organized by AUB.

The Iraqi Ministry of Health had chosen AUBMC to train a total of 60 nurses and paramedics working in emergency departments of government hospitals involved in providing emergency medical services and life support programs. The project was proposed and implemented by AUB's Regional External Programs (REP).

Hassan Diab, AUB's vice president for REP, who expressed hope the training session would be "the beginning of similar collaborative efforts between AUB and various institutions in Iraq and the region," commented that the "intensive course went very well and as planned."

Jihad Abdul Ghafour, a 27-year-old nurse working at the Kirkuk General Hospital, thought that in light of the violence inflicting his homeland, the training was beneficial in contextualizing experience in the medical theories underlying them, and said, "I hope all paramedics and nurses in Iraq get the chance to complete this course."

A Kurdistani woman specialist in medical assessment, who refrained from giving her name, said the training was a "unique opportunity" and added that all the teachers had put a great deal of effort into the training program.

Those who completed the course will receive an official certificate of completion from AUB's Continuing Education Center, whose acting director, George Farag, played a key role in coordinating the smooth progress of the program. In addition to Farag, who is also the assistant vice president for REP, the project team consisted of AUB doctors, nurses, staff, and administrators.

Funded by the World Bank's International Development Association, the Emergency Health Rehabilitation Program fulfills REP's mission in consolidating the academic and professional experience of the University's faculty and staff to provide rigorous consulting and technical assistance in the region. It also falls in line with the Iraqi Ministry of Health's efforts to rehabilitate its deteriorated emergency medical services.

The program's training curricula included tutoring on basic trauma life support, advanced care trauma for nurses, the training of trainers, and major incident medical management support. The next group of participants to participate in the Emergency Health Rehabilitation Program is expected to arrive in Beirut from Baghdad in mid-April.