Médecins Sans Frontières - REPORT: Baghdad Medical Rehabilitation Center, Iraq (ENG)

Unique Identifier Code / URN MSF239427

Date taken / Date Recorded 10/04/2018 12:00 AM

Country Iraq

Commissioning section MSF-FRANCE

Photographer / videographer / producer Ahmad Amer

Copyright MSF

Usage Rights (MSF) MSF Publications, Social Media

Formal Consent Copy available no

Editor's rating ★★★★★ (C)

Video format h264 (Main) (avc1 / 0x31637661)

Duration 3m7s

Maximum Size 1920px × 1080px 310.52 MB

Additional Information / Shotlist Baghdad Medical Rehabilitation Center (BMRC)
Médecins Sans Frontières

The BMRC opened in August 2017
The BMRC works in close collaboration with the surgical departments of public hospitals in Baghdad

Dr Aous Khalaf, Medical Activity Manager, MSF
The BMRC treats victims of terrorist attacks and other forms of violence
who have suffered fractures or wounds to their upper and lower limbs.

It also provides care for amputees,
people with nerve injuries, multiple wounds, bed ulcers and thrombosis.

It’s a comprehensive rehabilitation programme
focusing on helping patients make a full recovery.

The BMRC provides each patient and their caregiver with a private room

The BMRC provides physiotherapy and early rehabilitation care,
introducing the benefits of such practices to Iraq.

Without an early and comprehensive medical rehabilitation programme,
patients are at risk of thrombosis,
bed ulcers, joint stiffness and muscle weakness.

Patients’ injuries may worsen without trained staff

and full recovery may not be achieved,

a patient may not be able to walk again, for example.

There is no doubt that both physiotherapy and psychotherapy

are key to any successful and ambitious medical rehabilitation project.

Psychological rehabilitation is very important.

Patients who have experienced violent incidents may be psychologically vulnerable

which can have a negative effect on their physical recovery.

Mental health issues can interfere with the progress of the medical rehabilitation programme.

Medical care and physiotherapy go hand in hand with psychological care.

We call the team a multidisciplinary team.

That is what we do every day,
and what we continually strive to develop.