9 December 2019 ‒ Recently announced data from Iraq’s national cancer registry indicate that there are over 31,500 cancer and tumor-related cases in Iraq as of 2017‒2018. Cancer is considered one of the leading causes of mortality in the country, contributing to an estimated 11% of total deaths.

“These alarming figures highlight the need for WHO, the Ministry of Health and all partners to address cancer management as a key public health priority programme in the country. The cancer registration data for 2017‒2018 provides essential data that will contribute to the development of effective prevention and treatment plans for the disease,” said Dr Adham Ismail, WHO Representative in Iraq.

The national population-based cancer registry programme in Iraq, supported by WHO and the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC), collects, analyses and provides information on cancer-related cases and mortalities across the country. The data is collected from both public and private sector hospitals and laboratories countrywide.

To ensure accurate acquisition and management of data at both the central and governorate levels in Iraq, WHO recently trained seven master trainers and staff working in cancer institutions on the updated CanReg 5 program, an open-source tool to input, store, check and analyse cancer registry data.

For further information, please contact:

Ms Pauline Loyce Ajello
Mobile: +964 772 987 7288
This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

Ms Baraa Afif Shaba
Mobile: +964 780 001 0244
This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

Ms Ajyal Manssour Al-Sultany
Mobile: +964 774 089 2878
This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it