Ever since the Libyan War broke out, there has been nonstop attacks. Misrata in particular has been greatly impacted by the attacks of Libyan leader, Moammar Gadhafi's forces. Since last week, 109 people have died and over 1,300 have been wounded. The hospital in Misrata is having a hard time caring for the wounded due to the madness that surrounds the hospital. Just recently bombs fell right outside the hospital and rooftop snipers have been circling the hospital, striking every chance they get. The injured, traveling in ambulances are now having difficulties even making it to receive help because of snipers shooting at the ambulances. Even those who have made it to the hospital, aren't receiving the proper care they need. The hospital has no empty beds, electricity, anesthesia or painkillers. Doctors are treating patients in corridors and are even operating on them with no anesthesia. Individuals with less life threatening conditions such as amputated limbs, are being sent home. In most adequately run hospitals in the US, a patient would never be sent home right away after having an arm or leg chopped off. The people of the city of Misrata are in dire need of help. The hospital cannot provide the proper care for the massive amount of patients they are being handed. I cant even imagine the pain these patients who are not getting any anesthetics are dealing with. For someone in the US, to go under the knife with no sedation is almost unheard of. As of right now it looks like this situation is not going to get any better but only worse. Misrata needs anesthesia, narcotics, and sterilization fast. People cannot continue to be properly treated without these and although this may not be possible right now, at least doctors are doing all that they can during this critical time.
1 comment:
The conditions that these people are going through are just sad. Reading this blog made me think of the movie Pearl Harbor and how they had to operate on people in every spot of the hospital. The shooting at the ambulances is just plain cruel. You are correct about people here in the States going under the knife without any sedation is unheard of. This blog definitely informed me about what has been happening over in Libya.
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