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For an Iraq free of landmines by 2018
Baghdad, 4 April 2012 – Marking the International Day for Mine Awareness and Assistance in Mine Action, the United Nations called for an Iraq free of all landmines by 2018, and reaffirmed its commitment to support the country’s Mine Action programme.
“Each year on 4 April, countries around the world raise awareness about landmines and progress toward their eradication. In Iraq, we want to honour this day by drawing the attention to Iraqi women, men and children who have lost their lives or limbs, who have become blind, or who cannot move freely because of landmines,” said Martin Kobler, the Special Representative of the Secretary-General (SRSG) for Iraq.
Iraq is one of the most mine-contaminated countries in the world, with landmines and unexploded ordnance covering 1730 square kilometres. Around 1.6 million Iraqis in 1600 communities, or one in every 20 Iraqis, are affected.
Up to 90% of contaminated land is agricultural, with many landmines also found around major oil fields. Families in contaminated areas live in extremely poor conditions with little access to education, food and public services.
In 2008, Iraq signed the Ottawa Convention banning anti-personnel mines. Under this convention, Iraq committed to freeing the country of landmines by 2018, and to never again use, produce, acquire, or export anti-personnel mines.
“By joining the Ottawa Convention, Iraq made a great step in the right direction. The Government has embarked on an important Mine Action programme. Much more needs to be done to rid the country from these lethal threats. Today, the United Nations joins Iraqis and Iraqi friends to call for an Iraq free of landmines by 2018,” said SRSG Kobler.
To help Iraq meet its international commitments, the United Nations has been implementing many mine action activities, including by supporting the Government to develop demining and mine risk education strategies; demining; raising the awareness of hundreds of thousands of people about the risk of landmines; and delivering emergency treatment services to survivors of landmine explosions.
“Through mine clearance, millions of Iraqis will have a better life,” said Edward Kallon, Acting UN Resident Coordinator in Iraq. “More farmers will have access to their lands, more jobs will be created and access to quality basic services will improve. Aware of the socio-economic and security significance of mine clearance, the UN Country Team in Iraq remains committed in supporting the Government of Iraq in its efforts to rid Iraq of its mines,” he added.
Implementation phase of the integrated district health system based on the family practice approach in Iraq
26 March 2012 – The Ministry of Health of Iraq and the Ministry of Health of the Kurdistan Regional Government, Iraq, in collaboration with the World Health Organization (WHO), are organizing a four-day workshop on the integrated district health system based on the family practice approach from 26 to 29 March in Erbil. The workshop will focus on the planning and implementation phase, based on analysis, discussions and findings of the health system assessment of the four pilot districts – Baghdad, Erbil, Missan and Kirkuk. The main objectives of the workshop are to: present and discuss the findings from the health system assessment in the four pilot districts; identify and agree on priorities for each district; establish a mechanism for implementation of interventions; reach a consensus on the 2012–2013 action plan and the expected results for each district; and develop a plan of action on family practice implementation for the Erbil district.
H.E Dr Majeed Hamad Amin, the Minister of Health of Iraq, stated in the inaugural session of the workshop that, “Improving the performance of the integrated district health system based on the family practice approach will ensure universal, equitable and efficient access to essential health services for every individual, especially the most vulnerable, including children, women and older persons, residing in the catchment population of a primary health care facility”.
H.E Dr Taher Hourami, Minister of Health of the Kurdistan Regional Government, acknowledged completion of the assessment process in the four pilot districts and said, “Use of this baseline information will contribute to informed decision-making, especially during prioritization of needed interventions at district level and will promote a culture of evidence-based decision-making”. H.E thanked WHO for their support to the Government of Iraq in the provision of best technical expertise, guidelines and tools. He said, “We have a golden opportunity to enhance the access of quality health services to the Iraqi population through the timely and well-planned implementation of this initiative”.
Dr Ali Sindi, Minister of Planning of the Kurdistan Regional Government-Iraq appreciated the initiative of WHO to assist the MOH of KRG in the implementation of integrated district health system based on family practice approach and assured WHO about the strong commitment of Government of KRG to support the family practice initiative in KRG. And said “ the adoption of family practice approach is going to pave the way towards a successful reform of the health care delivery system as well as enable us to achieve tangible improvement in the health status of population”.
WHO Representative for Iraq, Dr Syed Jaffar Hussain, said that following completion of the health system assessment for the four selected districts, a comprehensive report highlighting the district health system profile of each district had been prepared. The data collected through assessment would provide the Ministry of Health and district health managers with information to assess the functioning of the existing system, identify strengths and weaknesses, establish priorities, select interventions and set programme objectives and targets in support of the integrated district health system initiative.
The workshop will be attended by 55 high-level delegates representing ministries of health at central, governorate and district levels and representatives of UNICEF, the United Nations Population Fund, United States Agency for International Development, European Commission and the media. Senior staff from the WHO Regional Office for the Eastern Mediterranean, Iraq, Jordan and Lebanon country offices will facilitate the workshop.
Dr Hussain praised the strong commitment of the Government of Iraq for making this initiative a core strategy for enhancing the performance of the health system at both national and district levels to improve the health status of the population. He reaffirmed the technical support of WHO to further strengthen the primary health care system, and in close collaboration with other partners, contribute to the capacity-building needs of human resources for health, required to accomplish the successful implementation of the integrated district health system based on the family practice approach in Iraq.
Workshop to improve the quality and relevance of medical education in Iraq
Amman, 27 February 2012 – The Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research and the Ministry of Health of Iraq, in collaboration with the World Health Organization (WHO), are conducting a three-day workshop on the accreditation of health professions education, with a special focus on medical education, from 27 to 29 February 2012 in Amman, Jordan. The workshop aims to strengthen Iraq’s national system of accreditation and assure its compatibility and harmonization with global standards. 
Working for a better accreditation system forthe prinicples of social accountability (MoH 2012)
Dr Sattar Jabar Ghaniem, Senior Advisor to HE the Minister of Higher Education and Head of the Supervision and Scientific Evaluation Office, said, “Accreditation is recognized worldwide as a tool for maintaining and continuously improving the quality of education, institutions and their programmes and products”, and added, “Improving the health of the population can only be fully achieved when health academic institutions are strengthened and developed”.
Graduates today are required to master core clinical competencies and acquire a range of cultural competencies to ensure they are in tune with the needs of populations and communities they serve. Dr Syed Jaffar Hussain, WHO Representative for Iraq, stressed WHO’s commitment to supporting the Government of Iraq, to build on what had been achieved and to improve the quality of medical education in Iraq. Dr Hussein said, “Accreditation systems can be a valuable mechanism to link educational programmes and methods to societal needs and to the principles of social accountability”.
Iraq is among 16 other countries in the Region that are adopting accreditation-related initiatives, including development of accreditation plans and national mechanisms. Professor Hikmat Abdul Rasoul, Head of the Accreditation Committee of Iraq, noted, “Despite all the challenges that Iraq has faced in recent years, many successes have been achieved, such as adaptation of accreditation standards and guidelines and completion of the self-assessment process, in most medical colleges in Iraq”.
The workshop will be attended by 42 key policy-makers and senior level officials representing the Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research, medical colleges in Iraq, Iraqi Accreditation Committee, the Accreditation Committee of the Ministry of Health for health services and the Iraqi Embassy. Senior trainers from the University of Sharjah, United Arab Emirates, Jordan University and WHO Regional and country offices will facilitate the workshop.
Priority will be given to: assessing the current status of accreditation of health professions education, especially medical education in Iraq; developing a structure and core functions for a preliminary model of accreditation in Iraq; reviewing existing terms of reference for accreditation structures; and agreeing on a national and institutional plan of action and way forward to improve the accreditation system in Iraq.
Dr Hussein praised the commitment of, and collaboration between, agencies and said that the establishment of a quality accreditation system in Iraq would not only improve the health system but save the lives of millions.
PR Workshop to improve the quality and relevance of medical education in Iraq is available in Englsih | Arabic
