Organizations

Dr. Fred Ward, a long-time Physicians for Peace volunteer, recently traveled to Libya to visit several hospitals and a medical school to identify education and training needs in a variety of medical fields. The following is part of Dr. Ward's report from Libya on the places he visited and the people he met along the way...

This morning we first go to Jamhouriyh (Republic) Hospital. The hospital in Benghazi is a 260 bed facility and the director is Dr. A. F. Zaied, a nephrologist. He was most gracious and made several phone calls to set us up to see others who he thought needed our help. He expressed needs for help in the following areas: pediatric nephrology, emergency medicine, congenital anomalies, and pediatric advanced life support.

Then off to LIMU, Libyan International Medical University.  There we were greeted by Dr. Mohamed Saad Ambarek, an orthopedic surgeon. Dr. Ambarek was trained in England and Scotland.  We have a very detailed tour of the campus.  The organization is a private not-for-profit institution. They have had teachers from Italy, Germany and England.  He says he would be most happy to add the U.S. to their list of those helping them to provide international health education. The school is of the finest quality and has all the basic laboratories, etc.  He admits they have a lot of growing to do.  They are in just their second year.  In talking with Dr Ambarek we concluded that the best way to reach the largest number of physicians would be with a conference.  They have a beautiful space which will accommodate 250 physicians.  Their desires are: general medicine, medical curriculum, advanced life support, and nephrology. He presented me with a medallion for the humanitarian work that Physicians For Peace does.

Our first appointment on Wednesday is at Elfateh Children Hospital.  We are greeted by the Director, Dr. Abdussalam A. Elshakmak. All the departments are well covered, but with minimal equipment.  For instance, in the microbiology laboratory they only have two microscopes. They seem to have a rather high incidence of birth trauma, about 6:300 births.  We saw three children in physical therapy who had upper extremity nerve damage.  Two had had nerve transplant surgery and were doing very well.  The PT people seemed very dedicated to their work. The doctor expressed an urgent need for teaching in genetic defects, especially metabolic defects.  Also, there is a need for pediatric surgery, hematology, and nephrology.

On to Tobruk, our next visit is The Medical Center Batnan, a large complex which incorporates an older unit with a releative new section.  The most impressive thing about the place is how clean it is in every respect.  The medical director is Dr. Saeed H. Ali, a Koln University trained pediatrician and EEG specialist. The staff is very enthusiastic and we had a very long conversation with the head of the department of Obstetrics.  They have about 45,000 births per year, which is astounding.  They have many staff, but not enough and not well enough trained.  We met a pediatrician who is from Egypt, who comes over about one a month for one week. The areas of interest at Medical Center Batnan: hematology, pediatric surgery, nephrology and genetic defects.

 

Thanks to Dr. Ward's visit, plans are now in the works for future medical mission trips to provide education for medical students, as well as specialized training to help doctors in Libya better care for their patients. 

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