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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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”.

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

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.”

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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

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.

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