The World Health Organisation works in partnership with the Ministry of Health (and other health stakeholders) in fulfilling the Ministry’s vision of the provision of accessible, affordable and available, safe and comprehensive quality health services. To achieve this, WHO (as lead agency for the UN Health Cluster) has six strategic outcomes: (1) 50% reduction in under-5 mortality rates; (2) 15% reduction in maternal mortality; (3) Increase access to quality health care services especially for vulnerable groups and the un-reached; (4) Enhance disease prevention and control, including HIV / AIDS; (5) An enabling environment for healthy life styles ensured; and (6) Emergency preparedness and response ensured. These six strategic outcomes are used within this Activity Report, to present the activities that WHO has undertaken in the reporting period
Outcome 1 50% reduction in under-5 mortality rates
- WHO is working to support the Ministry of Health in the area of Integrated Management of Childhood Illness; through the adaptation of the facilitators guide for the training course, the case management wall charts, and in designing the Arabic version of IMCI training modules for paramedics working at primary health care centres.
- WHO is analysing and reviewing the MCH training proposals, submitted by the MCH unit at Ministry of Healthin order to provide feedback and technical advice.
Outcome 4: Enhance disease prevention and control, including HIV / AIDS
Cholera in Basra
- 68 cases of Cholera (19 of which were carriers), have been reported between the 19th April and 4th November 2004, while 200 cases were reported during 2003.
- 72% of the cases are from the centre of Basra city, 11% in Shat Al Arab, 8% in Hartha district, 8% in Abul Khasib and1% in Zubair district. 47% of the cases are under 5 years.
- Laboratory investigation showed that the reported cases were of different serotypes including Inaba, Ogawa and Nag.
- WHO is in daily contact with focal points in Basra -- supporting the MOH to ensure the situation is under control. All control and preventive measures are ongoing, including health education - which is an important measure in this situation due to the quality of the available water. Arrangements are ongoing to send I.V. fluids and ORS from Baghdad to Basra.
Coordination Activities
-WHO met with the Dean of Nursing College in Erbil, and discussed many issues in order to improve the Nursing Curriculum in the college -- necessary background document was provided.
Further Information
Thank you for taking the time to read this report. If you would like any further information on WHO in Iraq, please do not hesitate to contact WR Iraq (Dr Naeema Al-Gasseer) on wriraq@irq.emro.who.int or see the WHO-Iraq website at http://www.emro.who.int/iraq