Expectant mothers
living in the developed world look forward to giving birth in a clean environment
with the assistance of a caring medical team. Unfortunately, Iraqi mothers
do not have this luxury. A metal delivery table covered with a filthy plastic
cushion is the only comfort greeting them in their hour of need. See what
two of our volunteer nurses experienced and were able to share in an Iraqi
hospital.
30 Years Behind
Nurses Jyl Krentz and Liz Nenasheff had no idea patients in a labor and
delivery department of a Basra hospital would need them so desperately until
they walked into the bare and filthy building in late May. The hospital’s
medical standards were thirty years behind. Outside information had been
banned and all western medical texts had been confiscated during the former
regime. Newborns began their existence by being wiped down with rags and
wrapped in plastic bag “blankets”! Young nurses could be seen
reading newspapers while on duty. The system had fallen apart, not being
a true service to an already crumbling city of 1.5 million people.
Back To The Basics
Over the next two weeks, Jyl and Liz were able to educate their Iraqi
counterparts through lecture and hands-on experience. Jyl spent time emphasizing
the importance of a clean delivery room. “It was not at all uncommon
for them [Iraqi medical professionals] to get up one mother from the delivery
table, which was a bare plastic cushion, and immediately put another mother
down, … to deliver her baby,” shared Jyl. “By the end
of my ten days, I had them cleaning at least three times a day with disinfectant.”
Saving Lives
During one of the deliveries that Jyl sat in on, the newborn was not breathing.
Not knowing better, the Iraqi staff left the child for dead. Jyl quickly
jumped into action, doing a simple form of CPR and other measures done
every day in America’s hospitals. In a little more than an hour,
the new mother and healthy baby were on their way home! Finding out that
this kind of thing was a common occurrence, she taught the doctors and
nurses what to do in the future.
Jyl also taught the midwives and doctors how to deliver a child without
doing an episiotomy – a surgical cut which allows the baby to be
born with more ease. The Iraqi policy was to do the procedure, without
the use of any numbing medicine, for all first and second time mothers.
Most women would experience painful infections and complications. “When
I would help a woman deliver, suddenly there would be hordes of medical
students and midwives around, watching, and questioning me. By the time
I left, many of the midwives were routinely delivering without a cut!
This impacted the women I delivered, and now many women for years to come.”
Leaving A Lasting Impact
Every morning Jyl and Liz’s day began by teaching the hospital’s
ten head nurses from self-prepared lectures and handouts. Previously over
worked doctors did everything from evaluations to serving meals. It was
important for the patients’ well being that nurses learned how to
give better patient care as part of the team. One day Liz took them to
a female patient’s bedside, and with her permission, showed how
to do a physical exam. Through this training, patients will begin to experience
respect, kindness, caring and compassion from their now knowledgeable
nurses.
Having been on several Operation Blessing missions, Liz was aware of how
bare international supply cabinets can be. Only using her carry-on for
her personal items, she generously packed two 70-pound bags with medical
supplies including lots and lots of suture material, tensors, neck collars
and other braces, gloves and needles. “The entire experience was
incredible,” commented Liz. “I felt good relationships were
established during the short time we were with the Iraqi people. The love
that flowed through our team spoke lots to them and I believe it also
spoke to the many NGO's that were working in Basrah. I feel blessed and
honored to have had an opportunity to spend two weeks with the team and
share Jesus.”
When these dedicated volunteers from the United States and Canada returned
home, their memory was in the hearts and minds of the Iraqi medical staff
and patients. So much so that one new Iraqi mother had named her daughter
Jyl and another mother called her child Liz in honor of the special nurses.
There’s More To Do
Many sick and injured children continue to die from preventable conditions
because the Iraqi hospitals don’t have equipment, supplies, or knowledge
needed to save them.
HOW YOU CAN HELP
You can help by making an online donation toward OBI's disaster relief efforts. With your support, we can continue to provide emergency relief and recovery. Please make an on-line donation today.
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