U.S. Project Saves Lives in Azerbaijan
Every day, the mass media reports on the numbers of people dying or being seriously injured on the road in Azerbaijan. However, many of these deaths could be prevented through timely and professional emergency medical care.
Both injury prevention and emergency medicine improvement are critical to International Medical Corps’ (IMC) program in Azerbaijan. One of the main objectives of IMC’s Emergency Medicine Development Initiative Program (EMDI), funded by USAID, Hess, Chevron, and the Baku Tbilisi Ceyhan and South Caucasus Pipeline projects, is to provide more accessible, high-quality emergency medical care.
Through EMDI, IMC created Western-style emergency departments with well-trained and equipped medical staff at the four central hospitals in Azerbaijan. The impact is evidenced through the dramatically improved outcomes of patients who have received treatment at these new emergency care facilities.
“My son’s life was saved as a result of professional emergency medical care,” said Elchin, a patient who, along with his young son, survived a serious car accident. “At the hospital, I was told that our survival was made possible through the unique emergency medicine development program implemented in Azerbaijan. I am thankful both to this program staff and to the hospital personnel.”
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Doctor puts the last bandages before discharging Elchin from a hospital
Photo Credit: International Medical Corps |
The accident occurred on April 14, when they were driving home after a wedding party. Father and son were admitted to Shamkir emergency department with serious brain trauma and shock. Fortunately, lifesaving equipment was in place and professional staff were on duty.
“When I came out of the coma, I found myself in a bright room filled with equipment I had only seen in the movies. Professional personnel were next to me and ready to help,” says Elchin.
Elchin is still incredulous that he and his son survived the car crash. “I never would have imagined that there would be a modern and fully equipped emergency medicine facility in our district. If there had not been a facility of this kind in Shamkir, both my son and I would have died.”
Even though the new emergency departments have only recently begun functioning, dozens of lives have already been saved. Those served by EMDI represent a broad mix of men, women, and children, in the four main districts of Kurdamir, Yevlakh, Ganja and Shamkir.
“Just a couple of months ago, it would not have been possible to save these patients,” said Dr. Nuraddin Ahmadov, Chief Doctor at Shamkir Central District Hospital. “Clearly, the new emergency department will significantly benefit the population of Shamkir and neighboring villages. More lives will be saved, thanks to IMC’s program.”
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