QRCS’ humanitarian projects in Iraq to benefit 40,000 people

QRCS

The ‘Little Hearts’ project in Erbil, Iraqi Kurdistan, was inaugurated by Director of Relief and International Development Division at Qatar Red Crescent Society (QRCS) Dr Mohamed Salah Ibrahim.

The ceremony was attended by Acting Consul General of Qatar in Iraqi Kurdistan HE Meshaal Abdullah Al Hajri, Minister of Health in Iraqi Kurdistan, Governor of Erbil, Chairman of Barzani Charity Foundation (BCF), representative of the Iraqi Red Crescent Society (IRCS), Director-General of Health in Erbil, Director of NGOs Department, and many local officials.

In his speech, Dr Ibrahim emphasised QRCS’s constant contribution to humanitarian operations in Iraq, inspired by its absolute commitment to helping the brotherly people of Iraq, with numerous existing humanitarian activities done by its representation office in Iraqi Kurdistan, as well as a set of new health care and food projects to be launched for the benefit of internally displaced persons (IDPs), returnees, and the host community.

“In total, these projects will cost nearly $2 million and serve up to 40,000 beneficiaries,” he explained.

Dr. Ibrahim thanked the Embassy of Qatar in Iraq, Iraq’s Ministry of Health (MOH), local authorities of Iraqi Kurdistan, BCF, IRCS, Hamad Medical Corporation (HMC), Sidra Medicine, and other international partners.

After the ceremony, they visited the hospital to meet some children who were operated on and gave them gifts and toys as a form of psychological support.

Under the ‘Little Hearts’ project, 70 children from across the country will undergo cardiac catheterisation procedures performed by a volunteering medical delegation from Sidra Medicine and HMC, comprising Dr Hisham Al-Salous, cardiac catheterisation consultant, Dr Bahaa Al-Din Jumaa, consultant of paediatric critical care, and Alaa Al-Din Mohamed, senior cardiac catheterization technician.

In addition, the medical convoy’s programme involves three training workshops for local medical professionals at intensive care units (ICUs) in many hospitals, to be held in cooperation with the Health Directorate of Erbil.