Updated 19 July 2011
Thanks to the generosity of donors from around the world in January 2010 who responded to The World Federation’s “Ya Sakina Breath of Life Appeal”, 332 nebulisers were gifted to the children, youth and the elderly in Iraq who suffer from asthma.
Asthma is a major public health problem especially among Iraqi children, where prevalence rates of the illness and wheezing are comparable to industrialized and developed countries, and occurrences of severe asthma symptoms are similar or higher than in other countries.
A nebuliser is a device used to administer medication to asthma patients; it converts liquid medication into a mist so that it can be easily and more effectively inhaled through a mask or a mouthpiece by breathing naturally. Nebulisers are easy to use and families can administer the medication to their children in the comfort of their own homes.
|
AMOUNT
RAISED AND SPENT |
QUANTITY OF NEBULISERS PURCHASED & GIFTED |
DISTRIBUTION
DATE |
LOCATION
OF DISTRIBUTION |
|
$11,500 USD |
230
($50 USD per unit) |
May 2010 |
Hilla, Iraq
(in partnership with
Imamia Medics International (UK) and the Al-Hakim Foundation) |
|
£1,736 GBP |
102
(48 NebLight 1200,
£12 GBP per unit)
(54 NebSonic 475,
£21.50 per unit) |
February 2011 |
Najaf, Iraq
(via office of
Ayatollah Bashir Najafi, RA) |
|
|
|
|
|
The World Federation sent the bulk of the donations we collected to Imamia Medics International (UK) who purchased and distributed about 1,000 nebulisers in total in Iraq; The World Federation funded 230 of these units.
With the remaining funds, 102 nebulisers were purchased and taken to Iraq for distribution by Dr. Munir Datoo, Assistant Secretary General for Health who was part of the IMI Karbala Arbaeen camp. Dr. Munir Datoo personally handed over these nebulisers to the office of Ayatollah Bashir Najafi who distributed them to more asthma patients who were in great need of these life saving devices.
The World Federation would like to extend a special thank you to Gulf Air for providing 100 kilograms of free freight for transporting the nebulisers to Iraq.
Dr. Munir Datoo, Assistant Secretary General for Health said: ‘It is very difficult to watch asthma patients suffer when a simple machine like a nebuliser can help ease their breathing. It was an honour not only to hand over these nebulisers personally to Ayatollah Bashir Najafi, but also to be part of the IMI Arbaeen Medical Camp. I hope that these nebulisers will not only save the lives of asthmatic patients but also improve their quality of lives. On behalf of the recipients, I would like to extend my heartfelt gratitude to all of the donors who helped to make this possible.’
For more information, please email health@world-federation.org