Beds, Vegetables and Books are Latest Gifts for Iraqi Children

Baltimore, July 17, 2003 — Children's hospitals short of beds are among the newest beneficiaries of a special inter-agency health initiative for Iraq that Lutheran World Relief helps lead. Two Mosul hospitals will receive 100 new beds, helping relieve a situation where two or three children now share each bed.

Two other new projects of the "All Our Children" health initiative also address the basic health factors of hygiene and nutrition. One will provide fresh food to 37 Baghdad hospitals, enough to feed 5,000 people for 10 days. Non-governmental organizations are taking turns providing Baghdad's hospital patients with supplements for their inadequate diets.

A third new project will support publication and distribution of a schoolbook that teaches children about three post-war necessities: hygiene, health and avoiding explosives left over from the war, including landmines.

"All Our Children" raises funds in the U.S. to help Iraqi children at risk because of the steep rise in infant mortality that resulted from a decade of sanctions and wars. The target is $1 million. More information and ways to contribute are available at www.allourchildren.org.