Journal - International Society for the History of Islamic Medicine

Control Projest of Bejel (Endemic Syphilis) Disease in
Iraq *
Kathem K. AL-RUBIAY*
* DHM, DTMH,. MSc. PhD., Department of Dermatology, College of Medicine, University of Bsxasrah. Basrah, Iraq. Po. Box.
289 e-mail: kadhim1000@yahoo.com
Health Services in Early Twentieth
Century in Iraq
Health services were poor in general, few small
hospitals in Iraq at that time. Bejel was widespread
amongst the tribes of the Western Desert and the
south marsh area, in Iraq. Before the foundation of
the Bejel Institute in 1951, patients with skin and
venereal diseases were treated in the Department of
Skin and Venereal Disease attached to a main hospital,
‘Civil General Hospital’ in Baghdad (1-3). This
hospital was originally built in 1872 by ‘Midhat
Pasha’ to commemorate the visit of Nasr Al-Din
Shah. After the departure of the Turks in 1917 British
troops entered Baghdad and the hospital was repaired
and re-equipped. In 1920 there was a venereal disease
dispensary which dealt with the sexually transmitted
diseases. Reviewing the Annual Health
administration reports of 1920 to 1949, I was unable
to find any terminology related to Bejel despite the
fact that the disease was prevalent in the region (1-4).
It was reported in 1928 in the Syrian Desert (5), also
in 1936 by Iraqi doctor Wadad (1n Arabic) (6); in
1940 by Hoff and Shabby (7) and by Akrawi in 1949
(8). From annual statistics it appears that the Bejel
Summary
Bejel, also known as endemic syphilis, is a chronic but curable disease, seen mostly in children. It is most commonly found in
dry, hot climates countries of the Middle East (Syria, Saudi Arabia, Iraq), Africa, Central Asia. Bejel, is caused by Treponema pallidum
similar to the one that sexually transmitted (syphilis) disease, but transmission is very different. It is transmitted by direct contact,
with broken skin or contaminated hands, or indirectly by sharing drinking vessels and eating utensils. The skin, bones, and
mucous membranes are affected by bejel commonly. Bejel was commonly found among Bedouin [Arab = desert dwellers], primarily
nomad Arab peoples of the Middle East, where they form about 10% of the population.
The World Health Organization has worked in Iraq in 1951 to control this and other diseases by organized projects. Widespread
use of penicillin has been responsible for reducing the number of existing cases, The teams of WHO recommended that the only way
to eliminate bejel is by improving living and sanitation conditions.
Key Words; Bejel Disease, Endemic Syphilis, History of Medicine, Iraq.
disease was either included in the same category of
venereal disease or under the skin disease.
WHO Control Project
Campaigns were organized by the Regional
Office in Alexandria (WHO) in 1951 (4). These
included projects such as Bejel control. Malaria,
Leprosy, T.B. and subsidiary projects. The details of
the agreement for Bejel control was that; ‘According
to .reports of the Iraqi and foreign experts to the
WHO, concerning the prevalence of Bejel in Iraq, an
agreement was signed in 1952 for controlling Bejel
and V.D. The WHO would send specialized experts,
UNICEF would supply medicine and other medical
equipment. The Iraqi government would be responsible
for providing medical staff, administration staff
and all maintenance costs and expenses’. The incidence
of Bejel was estimated to be not less than half
a million.
The Institute of Bejel
The Institute of Bejel and V.D. was established in
Baghdad in the summer of 1951. In its first year it
was run by doctors from Iraq, Britain, France and
56 JISHIM 2004, 3