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Japan donates ambulances to Mosul

Jun-28-2004 » Filed Under: Iraq News

(TFO press release)

By Sgt. Joseph Sanchez

MOSUL, IRAQ (May 27, 2004) – The first International government donation since the June 24 attacks in Iraq, comes in the form of 10 fully equipped Toyota Ambulances from Japan. The ambulances will help facilitate Mosul’s left bank Emergency Medical System (EMS).

“Mosul currently has a total of 160 primary healthcare and hospital facilities with less then 80 working ambulances to facilitate emergency and patient transfer needs,” said Ameem Hosiin, the assistant director general of health in Mosul. “These 10 brand new ambulances will help us have a reliable resource for transferring patients in need of medical care.”

In Febuary, members of the 416th Civil Affairs Battalion submitted a proposal to the Ministry of Foreign Aide in Baghdad for assistance in the Iraqi health care system. Four months later, 10 ambulances, 10 automated electronic defibrillators, and additional first aide supplies for each ambulance, arrived in Kuwait and were transported to the Mosul Airfield by Coalition forces.

“Japan gave a $600,000 grant for the 10 ambulances to be used in the Mosul and Ninevah Province area,” said Maj. Glenn Tolle, with Task Force Olympia, the command element in northern Iraq. “They gave this donation at a fortuitous time, when this city needs a strong Emergency Medical System.”

Once the ambulances arrived at the airfield, Coalition forces prepared them to be driven off the airfield by employees of the Mosul Health System. The majority of ambulances will operate out of the Al Salaam hospital in Mosul.

“We are very grateful to the Japanese government for their very generous donation to the citizens of Mosul and to the Coalition forces for providing the safe transport of these ambulances,” said Dr. Rami, a professor at the University of Mosul who has worked with the Coalition forces to help strengthen the health care system in Mosul.

As the keys to the ambulances were passed over to Hosiin, the drivers hopped in their vehicles, familiarized themselves and drove out the gate into the city of Mosul with 10 brand new ambulances.

The Coalition forces are resolute and committed to assisting the Iraqi people in their progression towards a strong, independent and democratic society.

Task Force Olympia continues to work with the citizens and leaders of Iraq to make it a safe, prosperous, and democratic nation.


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