Emergency health care providers take part in practical training activities in Erbil. Credit: WHO Iraq

Erbil, 7 September 2023 – The World Health Organization (WHO), in collaboration with the Ministry of Health of the Kurdistan region, today concluded basic emergency care training organized to equip frontline health care providers with the essential skills required to manage acute illnesses and injuries in resource-limited settings.

The training focused on improving the outcomes of emergency conditions by providing over 30 participants with the knowledge and skills needed to implement a systematic approach to initial assessments and managing time-sensitive conditions, ultimately saving lives.

“As WHO and national health authorities in Iraq continue collaborating in multiple health areas, we remain committed to strengthening emergency care systems and building capacity within the health care workforce,” said Dr Wael Hatahit, acting WHO Representative in Iraq. “Through initiatives like this training, we aim to improve the quality of emergency care, reduce mortality and morbidity, and ultimately contribute to the well-being of communities across Iraq,” he added.

The 5-day training workshop comprised theoretical sessions, practical skill laboratory sessions, group discussions, and pre-and-post-training tests involving 35 emergency health care providers from Erbil, Ninawa, Sulaymaniyah and Duhok governorates. The outcome is 35 certified provisional and master trainers capable of cascading the basic emergency care courses for health care providers working in emergency care wards nationwide.

Emerging from its consideration of the role emergency capacity-building plays in ensuring accessible life-saving services to all Iraqis and in implementing universal health coverage in Iraq, WHO, in collaboration with the International Commission of the Red Cross, developed this course to be applicable to all local health care providers, including students, trainees, nurses, physicians, and pre-hospital or inpatient care providers.

The World Health Organization would like to thank the U.S. Department of State's Bureau of Population, Refugees, and Migration for their invaluable support in making this training possible.

For further information or media inquiries, please contact:

Ajyal Sultany
Communications Officer
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