Iraqi nurses and paramedics complete two-week training course at the American University of Beirut Medical Center

The event took place at AUB's Peripheral Arts Parking Area that is adjacent to the AUB private clinics, from 10:00 am till 12:00 pm.

The Iraqi Ministry of Health has chosen AUBMC to train a total of 60 hospital-based nurses and paramedics -- from the four regions of Iraq -- working in emergency departments of government hospitals in emergency medical services and life support programs. The choice of the Iraqi Ministry of Health came following a proposal and implementation plan by AUB's Regional External Programs (REP).

The American University of Beirut (AUB) Vice President for Regional External Program Hassan Diab hoped that this training session would be "the beginning of more similar collaboration between AUB and the region." Commenting on the emergency drill, Diab said that "this intensive course went very well and as planned and today's drill is indicative of its success."

According to Iraq's Chargé d'Affaires to Beirut Manhal Al Saleh, who was at the drill site on Sunday, "The Iraqi Ministry of Health made the right choice because AUBMC is the most prestigious medical center in the region and the trainees are, therefore, bound to acquire the best professional and competent medical skills."

Jihad Abdul Ghafour, a 27 year old nurse at the Kirkuk General Hospital and member of the Norwegian Trauma Care Foundation, thought that even though his field experience is by far more elaborate than the drill on Sunday due to the increasing and non-stop violence inflicting his homeland, "the training was beneficial in contextualizing all my experience in the medical theories underlying it." "I hope all paramedics and nurses in Iraq get the chance to complete this course," added Abdul Ghafour.

A woman specialist in medical assessment, who refrained from giving her name, said that the training was a "unique opportunity." "All our teachers put a great deal of effort training us and we highly appreciate that."

Each of those who completed the course will get an official certificate of completion from AUB's Continuing Education Center.

Funded by the World Bank's International Development Association, the Emergency Health Rehabilitation Program fulfills REP's mission in consolidating "the academic and professional experience of the University's faculty and staff to provide rigorous consulting and technical assistance" in the region. It also comes in line with the Iraqi Ministry of Health's efforts to rehabilitate "deteriorated emergency medical services," as is described in the training program's website.

Covering theoretical and technical approaches to emergency medical services and life support, the training curricula include tutoring on basic trauma life support, advanced care trauma for nurse, training of trainers, and major incident medical management support.