Los Países Centroamericanos le Dan la Bienvenida a los Nuevos Centros WiRED

In a whirlwind three days in August, WiRED opened Medical Information Centers (MICs) in Nicaragua, Honduras and El Salvador. Ribbon cutting ceremonies at the three new MIC openings brought out doctors, nurses, hospital administrators and many celebrants from the local communities.

In June 2008, WiRED, its IT partners, and the ICDDR,B provided critical medical information to Iraqi doctors via videoconference and training videos to help contain an outbreak of cholera.

On June 24, 2003, WiRED International launched its first Medical Information Center (MIC) in Iraq. Now, five years later, WiRED celebrates the anniversary of this launch, having installed more than 30 MICs throughout the country and video conferencing facilities in four Iraqi cities.

The following stories, sent to us by CHIC visitors, staffers and community members, reflect the anguish and sorrow, and the hope and joy experienced among those familiar with WiRED’s Centers. These recollections describe the value of WiRED’s programs, and show how WiRED is offering an opportunity to those who have lost all optimism to once again experience hope.

On Friday, July 21, 2007, WiRED’s telemedicine program in Iraq was the topic on one of America’s most-watched news programs, CNN’s Anderson Cooper 360. The story focused on the significant impact that WiRED’s low-budget, medical education programs are having in Iraq, in comparison to some large projects with budgets reaching $150 million that have “essentially fallen apart,” as described by Cooper.

The U.S. Department of State has recently announced that it will underwrite the restart of WiRED’s telemedicine program in Iraq. This year, the program will include a general curriculum to update Iraqi physicians and nurses on current medical developments . . .

WiRED’s reach into eastern Europe continues with the October launch of two more Medical Information Centers in Bosnia. The latest MICs are expected to provide a wealth of critical information to medical students and professionals in Banja Luka and Mostar. Both cities are still recovering from the effects of Bosnia’s brutal three-year civil war.

The Medtronic Foundation announced in early August that it will provide a humanitarian grant to support WiRED’s medical education work in Serbia and Kosovo. This grant will continue the Medtronic Foundation’s generous underwriting of WiRED’s Medical Information Centers in the former Yugoslavia. It will cover new equipment and installation and share in the operating costs for medical content.

This summer, WiRED International has been coordinating a telemedicine program between three U.S. medical universities and four medical schools in Iraq.