[NPInfo] Donations of Medical and nursing textbooks and journals for Iraq

Tue Sep 25 00:22:19 PDT 2007

Here's more information I was emailed today:

Dear Ms. Neuman,

This information is current as of  today.  A mailing date subsequent to 
mid-October will ensure that the  transition between units will have taken place by 
the time of  arrival.

The Medscape article _http://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/557426_ 
(http://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/557426)  Donations of Medical and Nursing Books and 
Journals  Arrive in Iraq has provoked a heretofore unprecedented response from 
nursing  professionals.  A deluge of  inquiries have come to me since 
publication of the article to inquire how to  help.  Since the letter was  published 
on the Medscape Nurses Website the great majority address donating  nursing 
publications. 
It is important to understand that there has been  virtually no profession of 
nursing in Iraq as it is known in western  nations.  Strict religious beliefs 
 prohibit contact between persons of the opposite sex who are not either 
married  or closely related.  Most  in-hospital patient care is the responsibility 
of family members.  Nevertheless, the Iraqi medical  profession has 
recognized the immense value of establishing a nursing profession  and a very limited 
number of training programs exist.  Because of the infancy of the training  
programs it is incumbent upon donors to select texts and journals that address  
basic nursing concepts and procedures.  Many journals address issues of 
societal importance in western medicine,  but which have little relevance in Iraq.  
They are therefore of little use in Iraq.  Please consider this when  selecting 
journals to donate.  Basic  examination equipment such as stethoscopes and BP 
cuffs are in short supply and  are greatly valued as well.   
Advanced practice nursing is  unknown in Iraq, but the principles of primary 
care are universal, whether  pediatrics, womens’ health or general medicine so 
it is  likely that primary care materials will be valuable to Iraqi  
physicians.  Similarly materials relating to specific  specialty areas such as 
diabetic care, oncology nursing and surgical nursing  ought to be valuable to many 
Iraqi  clinicians at all levels  . 
The best way to ship is by  the US Postal Service.  The military  
addresses/APO (Army Post Office) are rated as domestic mail.  The  military assumes costs 
for overseas movement.  By specifying book/media  rate the lowest postal rate 
applies.  The USPS has free 8½ X 11 X 8½ boxes that  are sent for a flat rate 
of $8.00 and are excellent for journals and  books.  Larger donations are 
better sent in 1.5 cubic foot boxes available  from shipping companies.    
A program supporting the  development of nursing training has been 
established in the Tikrit area of  northern Iraq.  It will continue to  be supported by 
the medical personnel of the 101st Airborne  Division.  Please address 
donations  as follows to the Army Medical Officer who has volunteered to carry this  
forward: 
MAJ Cory  Costello 
HHC, 1st BCT, 101st  Airborne Division 
COB Speicher,  Iraq 
APO AE  09393 
David B. Gifford, MD,  FACP 
Colonel-Retired, US  Army 
============================================================= 

Gail Neuman  RNC CPHW
student midwife and student nurse practitioner
certified high  risk OB/OB legal consultant
Perinatal Nurse Associates
801 N. Tustin Ave.,  Suite 305
Santa Ana, CA 92705
(714) 314-7070
(714) 838-1479  fax

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