POUGHKEEPSIE – Iraqi Health Minister Dr. Adeela Hammound Hussein
visited Vassar Brothers Medical Center on Monday to see how the Poughkeepsie
hospital is operating with its emergency department annex.
That type of prefabricated facility, installed a year ago, is being considered
to rebuild Iraq’s health system infrastructure.
Vassar spokesman Tim Massie said the visit, which came with only four
hours notice, was a great honor for the hospital.
“To the best of my knowledge this probably was the highest ranking
foreign official in any official capacity; there have been people in the
past that have visited who have been in organizations, but you don’t
every day get a phone call saying can you have a minister of health from
a particular country come by and visit,” he said. “It was
very informal.”
Dr. Hussein and Dr. Hassan Baker Al-Kazzaz, the director general for
Iraq’s Ministry of Health, were in New York City at the United Nations
when they learned of Vassar’s facilities and wanted to get a firsthand
look at one of the Johnson Portables’ prefabricated buildings.
From left, Dr. Hussein, Ken
Markho; managing director for the Middle East for Johnson Portables;
Brian Johnson, owner of
Johnson Portables; and Dr. Al-Kazzaz (Photo: VBMC)
