WHO supports the Ministry of Health with a vital consignment of medical technologies to boost national COVID-19 containment efforts [EN/AR/KU] – Iraq

Baghdad, Iraq, 21 February 2021 — The World Well being Group (WHO) immediately handed over a cargo of medical provides and tools to the Ministry of Well being in Iraq, with the intention to assist the nationwide preparedness and response efforts to COVID 19 pandemic, amid a flare in numbers of an infection and considerations over the emergence of a brand new variant within the nation.

The 129-pallet consignment comes to enhance 2 different shipments handed over earlier in 2020 price over US$5 Million. The brand new tranch of medical applied sciences contains intensive care provides and tools in addition to spare-parts-kits for the oxygen concentrators cargo supplied earlier by the group throughout the oxygen disaster in July 2020. The consignment additionally included Private Protecting Tools, electrocardiograph units, oximeters, and hospital bedding, furnishings, and sufferers displays, all of which come as well timed assist to the Ministry of Well being’s efforts to include the brand new spike in COVID-19 instances and the potential detection of recent variants or mutation.

As of December 2020, WHO has supported the ministry of well being in Iraq with over 120 tons of medical provides, tools and ambulances for a complete of US$ 4.3 million to equip the Iraqi hospitals and nationwide well being companies concerned with the COVID -19 response. The assist facilitated the administration of a substantial variety of instances hospitalized in essential and intensive care models.

“WHO continues to work in shut collaboration with the Iraqi well being authorities and gives technical, operational and logistical assist to handle the growing wants throughout this essential section of the pandemic,” stated Dr. Ahmed Zouiten WHO Consultant and Head of Mission in Iraq. “Our primary goal is to curtail the transmission of COVID 19, and restrict morbidity and mortality related to the pandemic and scale up preparedness for a profitable vaccine rollout to guard the well being staff, weak populations, and remainder of Iraqi residents countrywide” Dr. Zouiten added.

Iraq had reported its first imported case of COVID 19 in February 2020. Since, Iraq witnessed a gradual enhance within the variety of home transmissions which considerably spiked in July of the identical 12 months. The numbers started to drop down towards the top of 2020 however overrated once more lately to mark a regarding enhance in February 2021. Whole confirmed instances stand at 657,453 with 13,220 related deaths as of 19 February this 12 months.

This well timed assist in favour of Iraqi individuals wouldn’t have been attainable with out the beneficiant contributions from the Authorities and the individuals of the State of Kuwait, the Authorities and the individuals of Germany, and the US Company for Worldwide Improvement (USAID).

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For extra data on COVID 19, please go to:

A number of helpful hyperlinks on WHO Iraq assist to COVID 19 response operation in Iraq (2020-2021):

For additional data, please contact:

Ajyal Sultany, WHO Communications Officer, +964 7740 892 878, sultanya@who.int

Pauline Ajello, WHO Communications Officer, +964 7818 774 262, ajellopa@who.int

Mohamed Qadir, WHO Communications Officer, +964 7740 892 979. lashkrim@who.int