Erbil’s hotline 122 is a center within the city’s Directorate General of Health department that offers emergency services to people who face urgent and life-threatening health conditions.

Dr. Rezan Anwar Mohamad, deputy of the medical care section in Erbil’s Directorate General of Health department said: “Our personnel in the control room take calls from people who need emergency care, and then the aid team and ambulances drive to the destination.”

Emergency services to improve in 2023

Dr. Mohamad also explained: “The main center is responsible for the city of Erbil, but we have several emergency centers on the Khanzad-Pirmam road: Khanzad health center on Kasnazan Road, Fayzah Hadi Agha medical center, and a center in Gomaspan valley. We also established an emergency center in Sherawa on the Kirkuk Road. Additionally, there is a plan to build a medical center on the Makhmour-Mousl Road.”

Regarding the new year’s plan, she said: “Creating a coordination center with the support of the Ministry of Interior is a 2023 plan; this center will include civil protection, security, police, emergency, and crime prevention sections and they will operate together under the control room, so in case of an emergency they will all attend the scene. Meanwhile electronic maps will be used on ambulances to help them arrive faster.”

4000 emergency cases recorded in 2023

“In 2023, the emergency center handled 4000 cases. But other cases such as transporting patients or dead bodies are not part of the recorded emergency cases.”

Most recorded cases: Car accident, fall, and fire

Dr. Rizgar Abdulrazaq Abdulqadir, the physician and manager of the emergency center said: “Our emergency services are dedicated to people who suffer from incidents such as falling or car accidents, fires and even war-related cases.”

“Various incidents can be reported, but the most frequently recorded cases are car accidents, falls and fires. There are cases of sudden blood pressure, diabetes, and epilepsy that we also deal with.

“In Erbil, we have 10 teams of drivers and medical personnel, but we have 25 ambulances all available on a daily basis. We hope to increase the number of our staff.”

Free dead body transport service throughout Kurdistan

Dr. Abdulqadir added: “Communications via this line is gradually improving annually. More people know that they need to contact the line in emergency cases. Moreover, we also offer training to people inside schools, universities, and government offices. We give free courses and seminars on how to give emergency aid, so regular people can also help before our team arrives on the scene.”

Regarding the transportation services for patients and dead bodies, he explained: “This service is free not only for state-owned hospitals but also for private ones. It is also available in and outside cities.”

Regular drivers do not assist emergency ambulances

Regarding citizens’ collaboration with the ambulances in giving them ways, he highlighted: “Unfortunately, we have lack of assistance in this regard. Sometimes regular divers even compete with ambulances. They need to understand that they must give way to the emergency service ambulances, because sometimes even a second is a matter of life and death for the person who needs urgent care.

“We hope that people call line 122 when they need help with an urgent condition. Our team can help the patients using scientific methods. I urge people who do not have emergency aid skills to wait for our team members and not intervene.”