The World Health Organization works in partnership with the Ministry of Health in fulfilling the Ministry’s vision of providing Iraq with accessible, affordable, available, 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
Instability and insecurity are the harsh realities of modern-day Iraq. Consequently, moving forward is not just an option, it is a necessity, which WHO illustrates in its current support to the Iraq MOH through number of crucial tasks: the extension of the national blood transfusion centre is at 90%; 33 projects to rehabilitate over 50 PHC centers in different governorates are currently under implementation (a number have just recently been completed), with the rehabilitation of more than 15 PHC centers still under bidding and WHO is working to construct 19 training halls around Iraq, one for each governorate (18 are currently under implementation).
A graph showing the rough 50% decrease in incidence of Kala Azar cases in Iraq.
PREVENTION AND CONTROL OF DISEASES
WHO’s responsibilities to the Iraqi people entail not just treating existing diseases, but working to prevent their further spread as well. With that clear goal in mind, WHO has taken a significant number of measures to support the MOH in achieving a healthier Iraq. The outcome of this assistance can be seen in the data on communicable diseases received from CDC-MOH Baghdad (see graph on panel): A total of 2,448 cases of Kala-Azar were reported by all Iraqi governorates during the first six months of 2004, and only 1,240 cases were reported in the same period of 2005, meaning that WHO’s concerted support to the MOH Programme has paid off in roughly a 50% decrease in incidence. These impressive statistics were achieved in part by the following activities that took place:
- Full support was given for the spraying and fogging campaigns conducted in April of 2005 (two spraying campaigns were also supported in April and September of 2004, and the fogging continues to this day). WHO has also provided a significant number of long-lasting insecticide treated bed-nets and aided in their distribution to the governorates.
- With the prevention of insect carried diseases seemingly under control, WHO has turned its attention to rodents, which are also known to carry diseases that can eventually prove to be lethal; a number of rodent control activities have been supported and executed.
- An obvious yet incredibly vital element to the prevention and control of diseases is education. With this in mind, health education activities were recently conducted to increase awareness on topics including personal protective measures, and how to use the procured bed-nets. WHO is also working on providing health-educative documents to members of CDC-MOH Baghdad, as well as ensuring that first line drugs and diagnostic kits are available at the governorate level.
It is worth mentioning that all of these activities have required that WHO continuously be in contact with the responsible persons in CDC-MOH Baghdad, as well as WHO’s focal points in different governorates, all in order to keep track of incidence and to provide whatever technical support that is needed.
WHO Iraq this week has provided technical and logistic support to Thiqar Directorate of Health in conducting two workshops for doctors and paramedical staff on the early detection of outbreaks of diarrhoeal diseases (and other water borne disease) as well as two additional workshops for the community leaders on the hygienic education campaign (mainly the use of safe water and proper sanitation).
ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH
The phrase “a healthier Iraq” pertains not just to the people of Iraq, but to Iraq itself. A land filled with natural resources, it is critical that we work to save Iraq’s environment from misuse and negligence. The rehabilitation of an Environmental Health Lab in Baghdad is currently under implementation and is roughly 70% completed. This project aims to support water quality control and surveillance in Iraq.
OTHER KEY EVENTS AND ACTIVITIES
In continuing to support the campaign to educate Iraqi’s on essential health matters, 570 health related and scientific publications and CDs were distributed by WHO to: the Medical Colleges Group in the University of Mosul, the High Institution of Health of Al Batool, the Nuclear Medicine Hospitals and the Environmental Researches & Pollution Control Center in Mosul. A more informed Iraq will help contribute to a healthier Iraq.