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Mercy-USA Humanitarian Relief for the People of Libya
 
 
From February to October 2011, the violence against the vulnerable people of Libya led to the deaths of over 25,000 persons, as well as injuries to more than 60,000 others. Mercy-USA for Aid and Development, in partnership with the Arab Medical Union (AMU) based in Cairo, Egypt, sent specialized physicians, surgeons and nurses to hospitals inside eastern Libya, Misrata and Zintan in the western part of the country.
Update on Zintan (Western Mountain/Jabal Nafusa Region)
From August 10 to September 1, 2011, a five-member Mercy-USA funded medical team worked at the hospital in the Western Mountain town of Zintan. This team consisted of a vascular surgeon, an orthopedic surgeon, an anesthesiologist/ICU physician, an ICU nurse and an operating room nurse. During the team's stay in Zintan, the vascular surgeon, Dr. Mohamed Radwan, and the orthopedic surgeon, Dr. Mohamed Hashem, performed 211 surgeries, many of them life-saving ones. During this same period, the anesthesiologist, Dr. Montaser Abu Al-Qassem, and the two nurses, Ramadan Mahmoud and Gamal Abdul Kareem, assisted in 213 surgerical procedures; they also treated approximately 280 patients in the ICU and the ER.
From August 22 to August 25, 490 packages containing food items and laundry detergent were distributed to 490 vulnerable families living in the villages of Tandamirah (200 families), Al-Hawamid (76 families) and Tamlushayit (214 families) in Nalut District of the Jabal Nafusa region. Each package contained 22 pounds of wheat flour, 8.8 lb. of macaroni, 4.4 lb. of couscous, 4.4 lb. of dates, 4.4 lb. of sugar, 2 liters of vegetable oil, 6 cans of tomato paste, half a pound of tea and 2.2 lb. of detergent.
On August 31, 2011, 2,200 Eid gifts and toys were distributed to 2,200 children during an Eid ceremony in the Jabal Nafusa town of Jadu.
 
 
Update on Misrata
From April 7 to September 9, five surgeons (two vascular, one orthopedic, one general/plastic and one neurosurgeon) and an anesthesiologist have worked at various times in three hospitals in Misrata, namely the main hospital, Al-Hikma, as well as Zarrok field hospital and Central Misrata Hospital. Additionally, ten ICU and OR nurses have worked at these three hospitals.
As of September 16, a vascular surgeon, Dr. Mostassem El-Sherif, and an anesthesiologist, Dr. Esaa Mohamed Attiya, are working at Central Misrata Hospital. Additionally, seven nurses (3 OR and 4 ICU) are working at the same health facility.
From April 7 to September 9, Mercy-USA sponsored surgeons in Misrata have performed about 290 operations, many of them life-saving ones. The medical teams, including all physicians and nurses, have also examined and treated approximately 2,500 patients. In addition, they carried out training sessions for local Libyan doctors and nurses.
 
During his over 3 months in Misrata, Mercy-USA sponsored Dr. Ahmed Radwan, a vascular surgeon and professor at Cairo University, operated on about 100 persons and treated over 600 others. While all of his patients affected him, the one patient who had the greatest impact on him was a 5 year old girl, Malak al-Shami. Malak's house was hit by a Grad rocket while she, her one-year sister Rodaina and 4-year old brother Mohammad were sleeping together in one room. Her brother and sister were killed and Malak's right leg was almost completed severed and had to be amputated. Dr. Radwan, through his personal contacts, was able to fly her to the United States where she is being fitted with a prosthesis.
CNN reporter Sara Sidner interviewed Dr. Radwan about Malak. Please click on this link for a transcript of this interview
http://findarticles.com/p/news-articles/international-wire/mi_8131/is_20110610/residents-flee-syria-extreme-force/ai_n57662495/pg_4/
Update on the Eastern Part of Libya
From March 17 to June 18, twelve physicians (including a neurosurgeon, a plastic surgeon, two vascular surgeons, two orthopedic surgeons, and a general surgeon, as well as a cardiac specialist, a gynecologist, a pediatrician and two general practitioners), one pharmacist and 32 nurses (including OR, ICU, ER and patient room nurses) served with Mercy-USA's medical teams in eastern Libya. These teams mainly worked in Al-Thawra Hospital in the town of Al-Baida, and Al-Jala' Hospital and Benghazi Medical Center, the main hospitals in Benghazi, Libya's second largest city. They also provided outreach services in Ajdabiya, Darna, Tobruk, Benmesaad, Ras Lanuf and Telmetha.
From March 17 to June 18, Mercy-USA supported medical teams in eastern Libya examined and treated over 20,000 patients, many with severe trauma injuries. The surgeons also performed approximately 400 operations. In addition, they carried out training sessions for local Libyan doctors and nurses.
Dr. Ahmed Radwan Saves the Life of Guy Martin, a British Photographer, in Misrata
On April 20, 2011, Mercy-USA sponsored vascular surgeon, Dr. Ahmed Radwan, who operated on seriously wounded patients in Misrata's Al-Hikma hospital from April 7 to July 14, carried out a six-hour emergency surgical procedure to stop severe bleeding and save Guy Martin's life. Mr. Martin was among a group of four photojournalists who were covering heavy fighting on Misrata's main road, Tripoli Street, when a shell fired by pro-Gaddafi forces exploded next to them fatally injuring Tim Hetherington and Chris Hondros & seriously wounding Guy Martin. For more on this story, click on the following MSNBC article: http://worldblog.msnbc.msn.com/_news/2011/04/21/6509784-doctor-two-western-photographers-recovering-in-misrata
Mercy-USA Sponsored Physicians Examine American F-15E Pilot who Ejected From His Plane Near Benghazi
On March 22, 2011, Mercy-USA sponsored Drs. Dina Omar and Ahmed Radwan examined an American pilot who had ejected from his F-15E fighter jet as it was crashing near Benghazi. He was brought to the hotel where they were staying. Drs. Omar and Radwan examined the pilot and showed him that he was among friends. For more on this story, click on the following National Public Radio article: http://www.npr.org/blogs/thetwo-way/2011/03/23/134756740/live-blog-allied-action-in-libya-tuesday-developments
 
 
 
 
 
Dedicated to alleviating human suffering and supporting individuals and their communities in their efforts to become more self-sufficient, Mercy-USA for Aid and Development is a registered PVO (Private Voluntary Organization) with the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), has special consultative status with the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC), and is a member of the American Council for Voluntary International Action (InterAction).
Mercy-USA has a four-star rating from Charity Navigator, is certified as one of the Best in America with the Independent Charities Seal of Excellence, and complies with the InterAction PVO Standards. Mercy-USA's projects focus on improving health, nutrition and access to safe water, as well as promoting economic and educational growth around the world.
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