The World Health Organization works in partnership with the Ministry of Health in fulfilling the Ministry's vision of providing Iraq with accessible, affordable, availale, safe, and comprehensive quality health services. The four main areas of work which encompass all WHO activities are: (1) Access to quality health services; (2) Prevention and control of (communicable and noncommunicable) diseases; (3) Mother, child, and reproductive health; and finally (4) Environmental health. This bulletin has used these four areas of work (which are consistent with the Ministry's strategy and the UN Health Cluster's strategic outcomes) as a framework to present the activities undertaken in the reporting period. For additional information on WHO activities in Iraq, feel free consult our website below.
ACCESS TO QUALITY HEALTH SERVICES
During the period 11-18 Sept 2005, four trucks loaded with laboratory equipment and supplies worth of US$ 439.516 procured under UNDG ITF funding were delivered to the project sites inside Iraq. These include items which will be used for water quality testing (US$ 408,345) under the Ministry of Environment and sophisticated chromatograph equipment and its accessories valued at US$ 31,171 for use at the National Drug Quality Control laboratory.
WHO continues to support the physical rehabilitation of different health facilities. Out of 134 Primary Health Centers (PHC) and 19 Training Centers which have been selected for rehabilitation under UNDG ITF PHC project, 29 have been now completed. These include 19 PHCs and 5 Training Halls. Similarly, of 8 mental health units which were under rehabilitation through UNDG ITF Mental Health and Non communicable diseases project, 4 have been completed.
PREVENTION AND CONTROL OF DISEASES
WHO supported the DOH of Muthana in Samawa to organize two workshops on prevention and management of communicable diseases. The first targeting doctors and paramedics (in two sessions) covered water borne diseases (with emphasis on typhoid fever and cholera) as well as proper case management of diarrhea whereas the second, also in two sessions, covered hygienic health education and targeted community leaders. The workshops started on 23August 2005 and each session lasted two weeks.
Necessary preventive measures including health education and training activities aimed at re-activating the surveillance system in Iraq have been taken since June 2005 and are operational. This is to increase the level of preparedness and response capacity in the event of transborder importation of the ongoing cholera outbreak in Iran.
MOTHER , CHILD AND REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH
Between 12-14 September 2005, WHO Iraq Country participated in the Regional Workshop which was held in Muscat, Oman to introduce the WHO new growth curves in countries of the Eastern Mediterranean Region (see Photo 3). The objective was to orient national nutrition, maternal and child health, senior health programme managers on the use of the new growth curves and to develop a regional plan of action for its implementation.
WHO Iraq Country Office participated in the three day second planning meeting for the MICS 3 (Multiple Indicator Cluster Survey 3) which was held in Amman, Jordan from 13-15 September 2005. The survey is to be implemented in 2006 by COSIT (Central Organization for Statistics and Information Technology) of Iraqi Ministry of Planning and Development Cooperation, in partnership with the Ministry of Health/Directorate of Public Health and Primary Health Care. The survey is to be supported by UNICEF, with technical inputs from WHO, UNFPA and the Demographic and Health Survey (DHS). The survey aims at establishing national indicators in the fields of health, education and environment.