Though the years of turmoil, strife and hardship in the Middle East have caused many to despair, there are people who work around the clock to improve the lives of those in the area. By giving back to his birth country, Dr. Goran Bekhtyar is "delivering health and hope" to the people of Iraq with the help of PROJECT C.U.R.E.

Through his organization, Improved Health System for Iraq (IHSI), Dr. Bekhtyar, who currently resides in Tennessee, aims to improve the health of the poor and most vulnerable populations through reducing inequalities and promoting sustainable development. Dr. Bekhtyar worked directly with PROJECT C.U.R.E. on a project to deliver a cargo container to Northern Iraq in October 2007.

Through IHSI, Dr. Bekhtyar was able to obtain the funding through the government in Northern Iraq and set up the program including the customs clearance and inland movement into Iraq. In October 2007, a team of marines who just returned home to Tennessee from a seven month tour in Iraq, spent time loading a container that was delivered to the people of Northern Iraq. Dr. Bekhtyar hopes to work with PROJECT C.U.R.E. to send 12 more containers into the country that is so desperately in need of medical equipment.

“There is always a need to be filled. There is always a family that is lacking healthcare, and by working with PROJECT C.U.R.E., we are starting to eliminate those needs. One at a time, we are making a difference,” said Dr. Bekhtyar, who also stated that after delivering two cargo containers to his home country of Iraq, all the soft goods within them were gone within the first two weeks of arrival. With the help of PROJECT C.U.R.E., IHSI has impacted over 5,000 people directly.

"PROJECT C.U.R.E. is so close to our hearts, I feel as if they're a part of our family," said Dr. Bekhtyar, who wishes to continue the program and expand it to all of Iraq, not just the Northern sector that PROJECT C.U.R.E. is currently working in.

For more information on Dr. Bekhtyar's efforts with Improved Health System for Iraq please visit http://www.ihs4IRAQ.org

For more information on sponsoring a container of medical relief,
please contact Claire Cunningham at 303-792-0729 or clairecunningham@projectcure.org.

To apply for assistance, or other inquiries regarding containers, please contact Lisa Hendryat 303-792-0729 or lisahendry@projectcure.org.