Edward De Sutter 26/05/2001
source : Dutch Journal Medical Science
URL : http://www.lai-aib.org/lai/article_lai.phtml?section=A3ABBD&object_id=8857
Irak
Depleted Uranium Source: Nederlands Tijdschrift Geneeskunde, 2001, 26
mei; 145(21), blz.1024
(Dutch Journal Medical Science, 26 May, 2001; 145(21),
p.1024)
Iraq: Too many babies without eyes
Mohammed A. Salman, an eye surgeon from Baghdad, is reporting via the
internet about the phenomenon anophthalmos: babies who have been born with only
one eye or who are missing both eyes. This is a rare anomaly, which normally
exists at 1 of the 50 million births. The Iraqi eye doctor, however, is
reporting 9 cases in two years; 8 babies are missing both eyes. The Flemish eye
doctor Edward De Sutter from the Groeninghe Hospital in Kortrijk picked up the
message from internet and started a scientific discussion with Salman per
e-mail. On the critical and unbelieving questions from De Sutter, Salman
proposed to come and to look by himself. De Sutter accepted the invitation and
came to Iraq, together with two other colleague eye doctors. What he saw in
Iraq, was horrible, like he writes in the Flemish daily 'De Standaard' (5 May,
2001).
De Sutter examined a number of children by himself which was born
without eyes, but also saw some pictures of children with grotesque anomalies,
such as the start of one eye in the middle of the face: the so- called cyclops.
His colleague Roland Bonneux examined children with an absent crown of the skull
who were keeping alive in the incubator. "I am not so much bewildered about the
presence of the anomalies as well about the great number out of them", says De
Sutter. Out of the 4000 births there are 20 with such anomalies. "Iraq seems to
be a scientific curiosity."
The cause is evident according to Salman:
from 7 of the 8 anophthalmosic babies who missed both eyes, the fathers have
been exposed to U.S. antitank weapons during the attack of the U.S. on Iraq in
1991. At this depleted uranium was used. According to the official point of view
from the U.S. the radioactive particles, which released during the use of such
weapons, pose no danger for the health, but various groups - amongst them
participants of the conflicts in Kosovo in 1999 - disputing this.
Leaving
all political sensitivities aside it has been clear to De Sutter that Salman
needs help. Not only concrete aid of medicines and material, but also aid in the
field of scientific knowledge and support. On a special web page of the
Association of Eye doctors in Flanders ( http://www.iraqi-child.com ) more
is mentioned about the mission of De Sutter to Iraq and the aid program that he
and his colleagues want to set up.
Translation by Henk van der
Keur
Notes: The web page is Dutch; however also for not Dutch
speaking people it is worth to visit. There is a report with pictures.
Contact:
Dr.Med.Dr.Sc. Edward De Sutter
Dienst Oogziekten
C.A.Z.K. O.L.V. Groeninghe
Campus Sint-Maarten
B. J. Vercruysselaan 5
B-8500 Kortrijk
edward.desutter@azgroeninge.be
