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I - New hospital in Akhmeta
After consultation with the Chechen medical community
and members of the Georgian Ministry of Health, Ccharm
took the decision to step in as sponsors of the hospital
to allow it to function efficiently without undue financial hardship.
We are replacing MSF who are leaving by the end of the year; their main aim was
to provide emergency treatment. Unfortunately no further support can be expected
from any other source.
Our Chechen Doctor, who has been working with MSF for the last 5 years, has helped
improve the existing facilities in Akhmeta hospital in order to treat the Chechen
refugee population as well as the most destitute part of the local population
free of charge.
Premises have been leased in the decaying and abandoned district hospital and
renovated to provide a clean environment for a hospital with 20 beds.
There were several reasons for our decision to favour backing the hospital rather
than distributing humanitarian aid directly:
1- without our sponsorship the entire refugee population would be left entirely
without medical help except in a few cases where the Georgian government provides
free medical help (as with diabetes).Furthermore we reckon that the clinic will
also serve, once well established, Chechens from elsewhere - from Chechnya directly,
from Azerbaijan, and even from Turkey. Indeed there have been cases of Chechen
refugees in Istanbul being brought for operations by our Doctor in Tbilisi;
2- the difficulty of distributing aid equitably in a military strategic zone
in the present climate of heightened conflict with Russia;
3- our visit to Azerbaijan convinced us that it would be quasi impossible to
set up an effective aid program because of the obstruction and delays caused
by Azerbaijani bureaucracy (see below);
4- the hospital will provide emergency treatment as well as regular treatment
to raise the standard of health of the refugee population.It will provide jobs
to a number of Chechen doctors and nurses.
Consequently, Ccharm is signing a contract with the hospital guaranteeing to
pay the salaries of the 16 strong staff of the hospital – including four
doctors, 3 nurses, 4 nursing aides, 1 accountant for one year.
Carlo di Pamparato and Marie Bennigsen purchased in Tbilisi essential equipment
to allow the hospital to open without delay. This included:
· a generator
· 8 wood stoves
· supply of heating wood for the winter
· an electric surgical knife
· a sterilising unit (Autoclave)
· bedding and blankets
· computer and miscellaneous
· labour and material to build a kitchen
We will be budgeting and appealing for funds to provide other essential facilities
that would be taken for granted in Western hospitals, such as hot water for instance!
II - Dispensary in Duisi
Duisi is the last large village of the Valley situated at the entry of the Pankisi
Gorge and bordering three republics – Chechnya, Ingushetia and Daghestan.
The population is composed entirely of Chechen refugees housed in appalling conditions
in disaffected government buildings. It is the first settlement where people
fleeing Chechnya over the mountain passes can get help. The dispensary is run
by our Chechen doctor,a duty nurse and works in conjunction with the hospital
in Akhmeta. It is equipped for emergency operations under local anaesthetics
for outpatients.
The dispensary is adequately equipped for its purpose. However, there is one
major difficulty: Duisi is 16 kms only from Akhmeta but the road is so bad that
it can take over an hour to reach the hospital for emergencies and seriously
wounded people. There are no public transport and very few private cars able
to transport patients. As a result many people have died before reaching the
hospital.
Ccharm will be looking into the possibility of providing a properly equipped
ambulance to be stationed in Duisi and eventually pay for the services of a full
time doctor.
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