Though government-run hospitals are increasing their presence across Iraq, but that doesn't dissuade people from visiting Salman Al-Khafaji's clinic in capital Baghdad, in the hope that octogenarian will treat their ailments.
FOR LAST 40 years, Salman Al-Khafaji has treated people suffering from skin ailments with creams and ointments, which he prepares himself. 82-year-old man also carries out circumcisions in a room at his home. The walls of Khafaji’s house in Karrada, Baghdad are lined with framed verses from the Qur'an.
Al-Khafaji says that in comparison to Iraq's under resourced hospitals, he can pay much more closer attention to his patients, according to this AFP video. Al- Khafaji was trained as a nurse in 1957 and was working in a government-run hospital for 21 years in Baghdad. After two years he opened his own clinic at his home. In 1970, he resigned from his job as a nurse and focused fulltime on his clinic.
Ali Abass, a Basra resident was severely burnt in an accident; he choose to visit Al-Khafaji rather than a trained doctor at a hospital. Convinced that he made the right decision, Abass says, “When you go to Haji Salman, he gives you hope. People thought that I wouldn't survive as my bones and nerves were exposed but, I could heal within six months and now I can even drive.”
Until around 10 years ago, healers were very common in Baghdad but now the numbers are dwindling as the number of hospitals is increasing after many years of international sanctions. The Iraqi medical authority is urging patients to consult the licensed physicians and the people are also slowly regaining trust in hospital treatment, but so far Al-Khafaji's job hasn't been threatened.
