Baghdad 17 January 2019 – Responding to the needs of the Directorate of Health in Diyala, WHO, with the generous support of donors, arranged for a large consignment of medical kits and medical supplies to support the Directorate. A shipment of 4 40-foot trucks loaded with kits and medical supplies was transported on 14 January 2019 to support districts housing returnees in the Diyala governorate, 84 kilometres east of Baghdad.

As Diyala is one of the crisis-affected governorates, and in line with the objectives of Humanitarian Response Plan, WHO, in coordination with the Diyala Directorate of Health, developed an action plan to support returnees and the families of internally displaced persons (IDPs) in the governorate in 2019 and provide Diyala with essential livesaving kits.

“This shipment is the first of its kind to be delivered to Diyala and an important step in WHO’s interventions in the governorate as part of the 2019 plan,” said Dr Adham Ismail, acting WHO Representative for Iraq.

Dr Ali Hussain al-Temimi, Director-General of the Diyala Directorate of Health, pointed out that the shipment would save lives in the governorate and could be used by mobile clinics offering health care and services to IDPs. “It came at an opportune time as the country currently lacks resources to provide necessary and lifesaving medications, medical equipment and supplies,” said Dr al-Temimi. “We are happy and highly appreciative of WHO’s support to our directorate. His Excellency the Governor of Diyala instructed that a letter of appreciation be sent to WHO and its staff in Iraq for the valuable assistance they have rendered. He also urged WHO to continue its work according to the agreed upon plan to provide medicine, construct a health centre in a rural area, train staff on statistical programmes, create software to connect health centres with directorates of health and the Ministry of Health, support exceptional campaigns for immunization, provide insecticides and pesticides for vector control in liberated areas and provide assistance to the 3 IDP camps in Diyala,” added Dr al-Temimi.

“The support by WHO and partner agencies came as a lifeline for the governorate,” said Mr Wisam Mohammed Ahmed, Head of the Pharmacy Department at the Directorate of Health in Diyala. “It will help medical staff in hospitals and medical centres to work more efficiently and offer better care to patients,” Mr Ahmed added.

The consignment included supplementary module pharmaceutical kits, supplementary module equipment, supplementary module renewable kits, traumatological profile/emergency kits, medical supplies support kits, basic units without malaria, Ringer's lactate solution and sodium chloride.

Support to the Directorate of Health in Diyala was made possible through generous contributions from donors and health partners, especially the Office of U.S. Foreign Disaster Assistance and European Civil Protection and Humanitarian Aid Operations.

Related links

Office of U.S. Foreign Disaster Assistance

European Civil Protection and Humanitarian Aid Operations

For more information, please contact:

Gheeda AlMayahi
WHO Communications Officer
(+964) 7827886765
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Pauline Ajello
WHO Communications Officer
(+964) 7510101460
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