Bridging the medical knowledge gap
Karbala nurse publishes essential medical guide for Iraqi healthcare workers
KARBALA — A Karbala nurse has released a book aimed at bridging the gap between English medical texts and Arabic-speaking healthcare workers and students.
Mohammad Abd Khader, a nurse at Imam Hasan Al-Mujtaba Hospital and Imam Al-Hujjah Hospital, published “The Most Common Diseases in Iraqi Health Institutions” back in February, but the text has quickly gained traction for its impact. The 478-page book is written in Arabic and focuses on diseases prevalent in Iraq.
“I noticed a gap in the understanding of certain diseases among health personnel, which could lead to a humanitarian disaster,” Khader said in an interview with 964media. “There was also a weakness in English proficiency among early-stage nursing students.”
Khader, a certified trainer and liaison member of the Iraqi Nursing Syndicate in Karbala, hopes his book will fortify healthcare workers with scientific knowledge.
The book emphasizes patient care and avoids including specific treatment protocols due to individual patient needs and varying physician approaches.
“One cannot treat a disease by name alone,” Khader said.
“The Most Common Diseases in Iraqi Health Institutions” offers an introduction to various diseases, including classification, signs and symptoms, laboratory tests, imaging procedures for MRIs and X-rays, potential complications, and chronic disease management.
Khader based the book’s content on surveys, patient file reviews, and consultations with medical professionals and diseases are categorized by body system, such as digestive, cardiac, and respiratory.
An initial print run of 500 copies has seen 431 sold across Iraq.