USA provides urgent assistance to reopen Ibn Al-Khatib Hospital

Baghdad - INA

The United States of America announced today, Tuesday, that it will provide the urgently needed assistance to reopen Ibn Al-Khatib Hospital in Baghdad.

A statement by the American embassy in Baghdad, received by the Iraqi News Agency (INA), stated that "the United States announces that it will provide urgent assistance to reopen Ibn Al-Khatib Hospital in Baghdad, which was severely damaged in a tragic fire that occurred on April 24th."

The statement added, "Through a grant from the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), the American Medical Students Association (AMSA), Iraq Chapter, began cleaning several floors of the hospital building today."
He stressed, "In the coming weeks, the US Agency for International Development will replace the medical and non-medical equipment that was destroyed in the fire, including hospital beds and patient monitoring devices, as well as personal protective equipment needed to treat Corona patients."
He continued, "In addition, USAID will work with the Civil Defense in Baghdad to install a new fire safety system at the hospital, which will likely include a sprinkler system in addition to smoke detectors, fire extinguishing supplies, fire exit ladders, and emergency signs. American Medical Students Association memorial honors the memory of the victims of this tragedy. "
"We hope this renovation project will put Ibn Al Khatib Hospital back into operation as soon as possible and that the new equipment and fire safety systems will help save lives, while ensuring that such a tragedy will never be repeated," said Acting Assistant Secretary of State Joy Hood.
The statement pointed out, "This assistance reflects the firm commitment of the United States to improving the health and well-being of the Iraqi people, including its efforts to combat the Corona pandemic."
He stated, "The United States has allocated more than $ 20 billion to contribute to the global response to the Coronavirus, including commitments to develop vaccines, treatments, preparedness efforts, and foreign aid."
He pointed out that "in February, President Biden announced the commitment of the United States to pay 4 billion dollars to the Kovacs facility - of which Iraq is one of its members - to vaccinate people all over the world."
He stressed, "The huge American funding and scientific efforts on this front remain a central and coordinated part of the global effort against this deadly virus," concluding by saying, "The global efforts made by the United States to confront the Corona virus are based on decades of American investment in the field of Life-saving health as well as humanitarian aid. "