Iraqi doctors to visit Japan on government invite

Main Category: Public Health
Article Date: 18 May 2004 - 0:00 PDT

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Iraqi doctors in Samawah, where members of the Ground Self-Defense Force are stationed, will visit Japan later this month to learn the latest medical procedures.

The Foreign Ministry has invited five medical experts, including the head of the Samawah General Hospital, to visit Japan. They originally had intended to invite tribal leaders.

"Tribal politics are so convoluted in Iraq that we couldn't decided who to invite," a ministry official said.

The Foreign Ministry invited doctors, and the Tokyo Foundation is sponsoring the visit of seven specialists in various fields, such as education and religion.

The guests will visit hospitals and schools.

Professionals visiting at the ministry's invitation will attend a technical training program at the Self-Defense Forces Central Hospital, funded by the government's official development assistance budget.

They will meet with senior officials of the Defense Agency and the Health, Labor and Welfare Ministry, as well as visit Kyoto and Nara.

The foundation has invited two Muslim Shiite clerics and two female school teachers. Two medical doctors and a medical technician also will participate.

In addition to visiting a primary school in Tokyo, the foundation has scheduled a visit to Hiroshima.

"We want to show how Japan reconstructed itself after World War II," a foundation official said.

Yomiuri Shimbun
From: http://www.yomiuri.co.jp

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