Spring Break
UConn Should Help Improve Iraqi Healthcare
Brandon Nadeau
Issue date: 3/19/07 Section: Commentary
Last week, I introduced Dr. David Haines, an immunologist here at UConn who has built up a network of fellow researchers and doctors stretching from Indiana and Michigan to Iran and Kuwait. After the release of the Baker Hamilton Report in November, it was suggested to Haines that he use this network to bring Iran, and its unique medical know-how into Iraq to help rebuild the Iraqi health sector. Previously, I outlined the extent of involvement from Iran and the US in this matter, and exactly what would be happening. This week, I will explain why this is important to people here at UConn and how students can get involved.
To help Iraqis injured in the war, the superior medical technology and logistic support contributed by the United States might be combined with Iranian skill in providing high quality medical care under harsh conditions. This would be of enormous benefit to Iraq's effort to provide its population with medical care.
The question arises in response to such a proposal - Is it even possible for the US to work with Iran? In recent weeks, Iranian consular officials have been detained by the U.S. military and to some observers the two countries appear to be on the verge of a full out war. All this is true, and Americans and Iranians will remain bitter rivals for influence in the Middle East. This, nevertheless, does not stop cooperation in an area in which both parties have an enormous stake in peaceful development. The reconstitution of the Iraqi health sector has become important because of this. Humanitarian benefits aside, such cooperation would involve intense competition for the "hearts and minds" of Iraqis - the same hearts and minds this administration wanted to win so badly. It doesn't matter if the Americans or Iranians win this battle, as the undeniable winners will be the Iraqi people. In the best-case scenario, conditions would be created that would stimulate repatriation of Iraqi physicians who left in recent years, and restoration of high quality patient care.
To help Iraqis injured in the war, the superior medical technology and logistic support contributed by the United States might be combined with Iranian skill in providing high quality medical care under harsh conditions. This would be of enormous benefit to Iraq's effort to provide its population with medical care.
The question arises in response to such a proposal - Is it even possible for the US to work with Iran? In recent weeks, Iranian consular officials have been detained by the U.S. military and to some observers the two countries appear to be on the verge of a full out war. All this is true, and Americans and Iranians will remain bitter rivals for influence in the Middle East. This, nevertheless, does not stop cooperation in an area in which both parties have an enormous stake in peaceful development. The reconstitution of the Iraqi health sector has become important because of this. Humanitarian benefits aside, such cooperation would involve intense competition for the "hearts and minds" of Iraqis - the same hearts and minds this administration wanted to win so badly. It doesn't matter if the Americans or Iranians win this battle, as the undeniable winners will be the Iraqi people. In the best-case scenario, conditions would be created that would stimulate repatriation of Iraqi physicians who left in recent years, and restoration of high quality patient care.
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