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Hi all, Ok, no greater revelations re the health situation in Iraq. However, useful may be this one: "... Public health director for the north-east of England, Dr Bill Kirkup ..." For contacts, cooperation, campaigning, getting disappointed or whatever else.. Best Andreas --------------- http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/3055685.stm Thursday, 10 July, 2003, 10:54 GMT 11:54 UK North medic's Iraqi health warning Sewage and water supplies were disrupted in Iraq Water and sewage services have to be restored to the people of Iraq to prevent a possible outbreak of disease, says a health expert who has just returned from the country. Public health director for the north-east of England, Dr Bill Kirkup, has just spent six weeks in Iraq and got to see at first-hand the aftermath of the war. He believes there are three potential sources of a public health disaster - because of unclean water, a breakdown in immunisation, and from insect-borne diseases. Dr Kirkup said: "The Department of Health asked if there were any people with public health skills who could go over to Iraq, and, as I had been in Kosovo in 1999 I put my name forward. "Getting a fresh water supply back to the Iraqis is the main issue, and sorting the sewage out. Potential epidemic "The damage and disruption to water and sewage could cause problems with diarrhoea, disease, and cholera. "There was also a halt to the immunisation programme during the course of the war, and an increased risk of measles, malaria, and whooping cough. "Finally, there is also a danger of insect-borne diseases such as malaria." He said: "These are the real problems that are left behind, it they are not addressed there is the potential of a horrendous epidemic." He said while he was in Iraq the health team needed American soldiers drive them around, and he had to wear a flak jacket for protection against any disaffected followers of Saddam Hussein. _______________________________________________ Sent via the discussion list of the Campaign Against Sanctions on Iraq. To unsubscribe, visit http://lists.casi.org.uk/mailman/listinfo/casi-discuss To contact the list manager, email casi-discuss-admin@lists.casi.org.uk All postings are archived on CASI's website: http://www.casi.org.uk