An earthquake struck
Bam
,
Iran
in the early morning of
December 26, 2003
. It measured 6.3 on the Richter Scale and destroyed over 90% of the city. Within hours,
the ISN Renal Disaster Relief Task Force
was on the scene. What follows is a brief account of the work of the Task Force, from its coordinator,
Norbert Lameire.
As soon as we heard about the earthquake, The Renal Disaster Relief Task Force of the ISN, together with our partners from Industry and Médecins Sans Frontieres (MSF) sent a scouting team to
Iran
.
The members of the team were Professor Wim Van Biesen (a nephrologist with experience of the Marmara earthquake in 1999), and two dialysis nurses: Mrs. Karen Roels and Mr. Stefaan Claus, all from the Renal Division,
University
Hospital
,
Ghent
.
In close collaboration with Professor Broumand, President of the Iranian Society of Nephrology, and with local nephrologists at the
university
Hospital
of Lerman, they stayed for several days to help the coordination for acute dialysis of about 60 Acute Renal Failure (ARF) patients.
In addition, dialysis machines, blood lines, catheters, bicarbonate solutions and other equipment were sent through MSF to the city of
Kerman
.
Approximately 10 days after the earthquake, Professor Raymond Vanholder, also of the Renal Disaster Relief Task Force, went on an evaluation follow-up trip to
Tehran
and
Kerman
.
Professor Broumand has organised a congress for
April 16 – 17, 2004
, in
Tehran
. This is designed to discuss future aid and planning for the region. Several nephrologists and nurses from
Iran
and neighbouring countries will discuss this important topic, together with representatives of the Task Force and MSF.
I want to stress the enormous help, cooperation and friendship the members of the Task Force have received from their Iranian colleagues.
Norbert Lameire
Coordinator of the Renal Disaster Relief Task Force
University
Hospital
Ghent
Renal Department
De Pintelaan 185
9000
Gent
(
Belgium
)
For more information on the relief effort in Bam,
visit MSF’s website