WHO Country Office in Iraq


Iraqi parliamentary delegation received in the Regional Office
9 May 2012

 

A high-level Iraqi delegation headed by Dr Liqa Al-Yassin, Chair of the Health and Environment Committee of the Iraqi Parliament, was received today in the Regional Office within the framework of a 2-day workshop on health system strengthening. '

The delegation was welcomed by Dr Ala Alwan, WHO Regional Director for the Eastern Mediterranean, who highlighted the importance of the visit, which comes at a critical time as the Government of Iraq endeavours to rebuild and modernize the country, especially the health sector, in order to provide the highest possible level of services to its population.

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Ministry of Health and WHO: strengthening health promotion efforts in Iraq

29th April, Amman – The Ministry of Health of Iraq and the Kurdistan Regional Government, Iraq, in collaboration with WHO, outlined a framework for the health promotion strategy in Iraq during a five-day meeting conducted in Amman, Jordan, from 22 to 26 April. The meeting was attended by representatives of the Ministries of Health, Planning, Higher Education, Education and Women’s Affairs, in addition to UNICEF and the United States Agency for International Development.

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World Health Day – Iraq establishes first national association of health journalists
12 April 2012

The Government of Iraq and the WHO Iraq country office celebrated World Health Day 2012 on 12 April in an official ceremony held in Baghdad. The ceremony was attended by high-level delegates from various ministries, parliament, civil societies and the media.

“Good health adds life to years” was the theme of this year’s World Health Day. “Good health throughout life can help older men and women live full and productive lives and be an important resource for their families and communities,” stated H.E Dr Majeed Hamad Amin, the Minister of Health of Iraq. He added that, “Iraq honoured this day by highlighting the importance of planning for an environment and services that are conducive to healthy ageing”.

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Zoonotic disease prevention and control workshop in Iraq
Erbil, 27 March 2012

The Ministry of Health of Iraq, in collaboration with the WHO Iraq country office and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in Atlanta, held a workshop from 25 to 27 March in Erbil to address the issue of zoonotic diseases in Iraq. The workshop examined ways to improve existing strategies for surveillance and response, epidemiology, control and prevention measures.

Approximately 75% of recently emerging diseases affecting humans are diseases of zoonotic origin. Health systems at international level do not prioritize, and often neglect, the majority of zoonotic diseases. Among neglected zoonoses are rabies, plague, anthrax, brucellosis, toxoplasmosis and parasitic zoonoses. Rabies is almost always deadly if not treated within the first 72 hours and with more than 5000 dog bite cases each year in Iraq, the economic burden of this disease could be reduced and eliminated by controlling the disease in dogs.

H.E Dr Majeed Hamad Amin, the Minister of Health of Iraq stated, “Partnership is the key to deal with outbreaks of all zoonotic diseases that affect Iraq.” He added, “It is important to ensure that effective and functioning systems are in place for early detection and response to zoonotic diseases”.

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Implementation of the integrated district health system initiative based on the family practice approach in Iraq
Erbil, 26 March 2012

The Ministry of Health of Iraq and the Ministry of Health of the Kurdistan Regional Government, Iraq, in collaboration with the World Health Organization (WHO), are organizing a four-day workshop on the integrated district health system based on the family practice approach from 26 to 29 March in Erbil. The workshop will focus on the planning and implementation phase, based on analysis, discussions and findings of the health system assessment of the four pilot districts – Baghdad, Erbil, Missan and Kirkuk. The main objectives of the workshop are to: present and discuss the findings from the health system assessment in the four pilot districts; identify and agree on priorities for each district; establish a mechanism for implementation of interventions; reach a consensus on the 2012–2013 action plan and the expected results for each district; and develop a plan of action on family practice implementation for the Erbil district.

H.E Dr Majeed Hamad Amin, the Minister of Health of Iraq, stated in the inaugural session of the workshop that, “Improving the performance of the integrated district health system based on the family practice approach will ensure universal, equitable and efficient access to essential health services for every individual, especially the most vulnerable, including children, women and older persons, residing in the catchment population of a primary health care facility”.

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WHO and Ministry of Health of Iraq sign a joint planning exercise agreement
Baghdad, 11 March 2012

WHO and the Ministry of Health, on behalf of the Government of Iraq, signed round 15 of a joint planning exercise for the biennium 2012–2013 during a press conference conducted today at the Ministry of Health premises in Baghdad.

H.E. Dr Majeed Hamad Amin, the Minister of Health of Iraq stated, “This important operational collaborative planning exercise, which takes place every two years, is an integral part of programme management and the consultative process between the Government and WHO. It highlights Iraq’s national priorities for the health sector and identifies WHO strategic directions to support the Government”. His Excellency acknowledged the importance of this strategic exercise to meet Iraq’s health needs, achieve the targets of the Millennium Development Goals and assure the right to health for all.

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Training workshop for central and local supervisors on congenital birth defects survey, Iraq
Erbil, 29 February 2012

HRH Princess Muna Al-Hussein opens the new WHO building in Jordan accompanied by HE Dr Abdullateef Wraikat, Minister of Health, and WHO Regional Director for the Eastern Mediterranean Dr Ala Alwan

H.E. Dr Taher Hawrami, Minister of Health of the Kurdistan Regional Government, addresses participants at the workshop on the congenital birth defects survey

Under the patronage of H.E Dr Taher Hawrami, the Minister of Health of the Kurdistan Regional Government, the Federal and Kurdistan Ministries of Health of Iraq, in collaboration with WHO, are conducting a four-day training of trainers’ workshop from 27 February to 1 March 2012, in Erbil. Central and local supervisors are being trained as trainers on the congenital birth defects survey to be conducted in eight selected governorates in Iraq.

During the opening remarks, H.E Dr Hawrami stated, “There is a need for a comprehensive programme to learn more about birth defects in Iraq that could shed light on the incidence of various conditions, such as congenital heart defects and neurological defects, in different geographic areas over time in Iraq.”

Full story

 


Workshop to improve the quality and relevance of medical education in Iraq
Amman, 27 February 2012

The Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research and the Ministry of Health of Iraq, in collaboration with the World Health Organization (WHO), are conducting a three-day workshop on the accreditation of health professions education, with a special focus on medical education, from 27 to 29 February 2012 in Amman, Jordan. The workshop aims to strengthen Iraq’s national system of accreditation and assure its compatibility and harmonization with global standards.

Press release


Evaluating mental health training: changes in practice and knowledge for health workers in Iraq
Erbil, 27 February 2012

Under the patronage of  H.E Dr Taher Hawrami, the Minister of Health of Kurdistan, Iraq, the Ministry of Health of the Kurdistan Regional Government and the Ministry of Health of Iraq, in collaboration with the World Health Organization, are conducting a workshop from 27 to 29 February 2012 in Erbil, Iraq. The workshop will review capacity-building activities, conducted in the governorates in 2011, and exchange experiences and lessons learned in implementation of mental health in primary health care services. The workshop will also focus on promoting local capacity in the areas of supervision, monitoring and reporting of mental health activities at primary health care level.  Directors of primary mental health units in governorates and other relevant officers from the Ministries of Health will attend the workshop.

For more information


Implementation of the Good Governance for Medicines programme in Iraq Erbil, 21 February 2012
Erbil, 21 February 2012

The Ministry of Health of Iraq and the Ministry of Health of the Kurdistan Regional Government, in collaboration with the World Health Organization (WHO), began implementation of phase I of the Good Governance for Medicines programme in Iraq on 21 February 2012. Fourteen national assessors from both Ministries of Health are being trained for three days, from 21 to 23 February, on the use of the standardized assessment instrument and methodology for measuring transparency in the public pharmaceutical sector. This will enable a better understanding of the potential vulnerability of the pharmaceutical sector to corruption and address identified gaps.

Press release


UNDP and WHO Handover First Specialized TB Hospital to the Government of Iraq
Sulimaniya, 28 January 2012

United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the World Health Organisation (WHO) handed over the first specialised Tuberculosis (TB) hospital to the Government of Iraq at a ceremony. The Hospital is located in the Sulimaniya Governorate, and will be supported by the Federal Government and the Kurdistan Regional Government. The KRG Minister of Health, Dr. Tahir Hawrami, and officials from the national TB programme in Baghdad, were also present at the ceremony.

The project to renovate the hospital in Sulimaniya, which was completed in December 2011, is part of a larger TB project for Iraq, funded by the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria, and jointly implemented by UNDP and WHO. The Government of Iraq, including the Kurdistan regional government, will provide the resources to equip and staff the hospital, and it is expected that the hospital will be fully operational in the next few months.

“I am very pleased to be in Sulimaniya today to handover this hospital to the Government” said Peter Batchelor, UNDP Country Director in Iraq. “This hospital is part of a larger package of support that UNDP and WHO are providing to the Government to help address the TB issue in Iraq” he added.

The new hospital in Sulimaniya, which is the first of its kind in Iraq, has a capacity of 30 beds and will provide specialised treatment and medical services to Multi-Drug Resistant (MDR) TB patients.

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National Health Account 2008    
     

::  UN Day

International Day for Mine Action and Mine Awareness
4 April 2011

Fact sheet (Arabic - English)

Inter-Agency Information and Analysis Unit - Iraq


Iraq free of malaria… a new success and upcoming challenge
25 April 2011

Erbil, 25 April 2011: “Iraq is Malaria free since 2009” – this was the announcement revealed today by H.E Dr. Majid Hamad Amin, the Minister of Health Iraq and H.E Dr. Taher Hawrami the Minister of Health in Kurdistan Region-Iraq, during a ceremony conducted in Erbil on the occasion of World Malaria Day 2011 with the presence of more than 200 senior and high-ranking officials representing, ministries, academic institutions, civil societies and media representatives.

Press release
| Arabic

 


Iraq, The United Nations Development
Assistance Framework (UNDAF)

2011-2014

Frequently Asked Questions
 


Training workshop on Patient Safety Friendly Hospital Initiative: Consolidation and Regional Expansion
11 April 2011

Eight Iraqi nationals from the Ministry of Health participated in a WHO regional workshop on implementation of the Patient Safety Friendly Hospital Initiative which was conducted in Amman from 11‐13 April. This initiative involves the assessment of the level of patient safety in healthcare facilities and provides such facilities with tools for improvement.

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Training on Gender for UNCT Gender Task Force
10 April 2011

UNESCO Iraq organized a training on Gender for the UNCT GTF (Gender Task Force) member agencies on 10- 11 April 2011 in Amman. The learning objectives of the training were to:
a) understand the basic principles of gender mainstreaming;
b) pinpoint obstacles that need to be addressed to work towards gender equality and highlight the solutions that need to be implemented in order to overcome those obstacles;
c) share good practices and

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Iraq celebrates World Health Day 2011 – Combating Drug Resistance, No action today, No cure tomorrow
10 April 2011

To commemorate World Health Day 2011, the Iraqi Ministry of Health with support of WHO organized a kickoff ceremonial event on the 10th of April in the Ministry of Health Central Hall. The ceremonial event was headed by Dr. Iman Assam Director-General of Medical Affairs directorate in the Ministry of Health and attended by large number of MOH officials, representatives from other line ministries, and media staff representing different satellite channels and media journals.

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Combating Violence Against Women project
6 April  2011

A meeting was organized by UNESCO Iraq on 6 April 2011 at UNAMI Amman with links to UNAMI Baghdad for the CVAW (Combating Violence Against Women) in Iraq project member agencies for the purpose of mapping ongoing and upcoming education and VAW/GBV (Violence Against Women/Gender‐Based Violence) programming in addition to the identification of gaps and additional opportunities for addressing VAW/GBV through the education sector in Iraq.

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Investing in tomorrow... the first child in Iraq receives the improved and newly-introduced rota and Haemophilus influenza type B vaccines
Baghdad, Iraq, 17 January 2012

MoH during a press conference conducted at the MoH-Baghdad

Consolidated efforts to protect and safeguard children in Iraq 

The Ministry of Health and the World Health Organization (WHO), in collaboration with UNICEF, announced on 17 January at a press conference at the Ministry of Health premises the availability of rota and Haemophilus influenza type B vaccines for all at all health care centres, basic health units and state-run hospitals, free of charge. The press conference was attended by high-level official delegates representing health-related ministries, the media and UN agencies.

H.E. Dr Majeed Hamad Amin, the Minister of Health of Iraq said, “These vaccines will protect thousands of infants against the most dangerous childhood infections, including the major causes of diarrhoea and the major causes of pneumonia, and meningitis, that is known to lead to permanent neurological disabilities”. H.E. said that in 2011, 46% of severe diarrhoea and pneumonia cases were reported as a result of rotavirus and invasive diseases caused by Haemophilus influenza, the second cause of death among infants in Iraq. These vaccines will contribute to the reduction of morbidity and mortality of children in the country.”

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World Health Day - 7 April 2011
Antimicrobial resistance: no action today, no cure tomorrow

 

Meeting with Minister of Health to discuss Quick Impact Projects
30 March 2011

WHO met with the Minister of Health and senior officials from the ministry in Baghdad on 30 March 2011 to discuss WHO support with regards to the implementation of the Quick Impact Projects in accordance with the directives of the Prime Minister’s Office.
In the context of ongoing demonstrations throughout Iraq demanding improved essential services, employment and accountability, UNAMI and UNCT are working to identify viable measures and proposals of proactive initiatives which could be taken to support the Government and Civil Society over the coming weeks and respond to the immediate needs for services, jobs and increased government transparency.

 

Latest reports

News from Iraq

Access the latest communicable diseases surveillance reports

:: Situation report on Pandemic (H1N1) 2009

24 January 2010

17 January 2010

 

:: Acute Flaccid Paralysis reports

AFP report 163, 31 July 2011


:: Weekly situation report on Influenza Like Illness, diarrhoea and cholera

Week 4 30 January 2011
Week 2 16 January 2011

:: Weekly feedback on measles

Week 30, year 2011

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The UN and the Government of Iraq Sign a Statement of Intent on the Common Country Assessment

Baghdad, 26 October 2009

The UN Acting Resident Coordinator for Iraq Dr. Naeema Al-Gasseer and the Iraqi Minister of Planning His Excellency Dr. Ali Baban today signed a joint statement of intent to cooperate on a major development framework for Iraq’s future. The ceremony also marks the finalization of the first ever UN Common Country Assessment (CCA) for Iraq - which aims to identify the key development challenges facing the country as it seeks stability and growth.

More information ((
Arabic - English)

 

 

 

Publications


2009 report
 

Medical code of ethics

(Arabic)
 

A basic health service package for Iraq
Arabic - English

 

Measles and rubella surveillance field manual
Arabic - English

 

Acute Flaccid Paralysis
Field manual

 



Code of ethics for nurses and midwives in Iraq
 

مبادى الدعم والإسعاف النفسي الأولي
كراسة للمعلمين6;;;

 

Description of the measles outbreak in Iraq
2008-2009
 

Psychosocial
co-workers manual
(Arabic)