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Eastern Mediterranean Region
Iraq

Technical Contacts

UHC Partnership Implementation

Programmatic and Financial

Status
20
Activities
Completed/Canceled
Status Product/Service Deliverables Last updated Updated by
view Completed Empowering healthcare providers to enhance skills and knowledge in tobacco control and public health risk communication Trained healthcare providers on risk communication strategies for tobacco control and COVID-19 mitigation, focusing on public engagement and policy advocacy. Strengthened capacities of primary healthcare professionals to implement tobacco cessation programs in alignment with the Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC). Developed and disseminated guidelines for integrating tobacco cessation services within primary healthcare centers. Established a monitoring framework to assess the impact of smoking cessation interventions on population health. Expanded community awareness programs to promote smoking cessation and public health risk reduction. bebanya@who.int
view Completed Technical support and assistance for polio eradication and post-polio transition planning Successfully guided Iraq’s polio transition strategy, making it the first country in the region to complete the polio transition process in 2023. Coordinated national and subnational training sessions for healthcare providers on polio surveillance, outbreak response, and vaccine stock management. Provided technical guidance in aligning Iraq’s immunization policies with the Global Polio Eradication Initiative (GPEI) roadmap bebanya@who.int
view Completed Development of Women, Child & Adolescents’ Health Strategy (2024-2030) Formulated a national strategy with clear targets, monitoring frameworks, and implementation roadmaps for improving women, child, and adolescent health. Facilitated multi-sectoral consultations with stakeholders, including government agencies, civil society, and international partners, to ensure policy alignment with global health goals. Integrated maternal and perinatal death surveillance and response (MPDSR) mechanisms into the national health system to improve maternal mortality reduction strategies. Developed implementation mechanisms for integrating gender-sensitive and child-friendly health policies at national and local levels. Expanded school health and nutrition programs to address adolescent health and ensure early interventions for at-risk populations. Strengthened multi-sectoral coordination to enhance service delivery and accountability across maternal and child health programs. Conducted training programs for healthcare providers on adolescent-friendly services, maternal health management, and childhood disease prevention. bebanya@who.int

Products/Services

Start date
Product/Service Deliverables Status Programme Implementation Start date End date User Contacts Last updated Updated by
Health Information Systems & Digital Transformation Implementation of DHIS2 for immunization services across 1,877 health facilities in Iraq, providing aggregated data on immunization coverage, vaccine stock management, and case-based medical records for adverse effect reactions. This has improved vaccine distribution efficiency, enhanced tracking of immunization rates, and strengthened adverse reaction monitoring., Deployment of DHIS2 for tuberculosis (TB) case management across 95% of health facilities providing TB services, supporting case-based tracking, treatment adherence monitoring, patient follow-up, and improved disease control outcomes., Expansion of Event-Based Surveillance (EBS) using DHIS2 to over 1,100 health facilities, facilitating real-time outbreak detection, case notification, and rapid response mechanisms. An expansion plan is currently in progress to include all healthcare facilities nationwide., Development and pilot implementation of DHIS2 eLMIS prototype for family planning commodities, scheduled for March 2025, covering 100% of PHCs providing family planning services in five selected governorates and approximately 25% of national services. A national rollout is planned to cover all facilities providing family planning services., Development and phased implementation of additional DHIS2 modules, including nutrition surveillance, HIV patient monitoring, non-communicable disease (NCD) surveillance, communicable diseases surveillance, and others under development to expand Iraq’s health data ecosystem., Implementation of national e-health strategy and HIS roadmap, strengthening data governance, interoperability, and digital transformation across Iraq’s health sector, enabling evidence-based decision-making and streamlined health service planning., Establishment of an electronic human resources management system (HRH digital platform) for workforce planning, deployment tracking, forecasting health workforce shortages, and real-time decision-making, ensuring better workforce allocation and national HRH strategy optimization., Strengthening of Health Resources & Services Availability Monitoring System (HeRAMS) to map and monitor 5,207 health facilities, improving transparent resource allocation, service coverage analysis, and gap identification for enhanced health service planning., Full integration of Power BI data analytics with different data collection tools produced locally, providing enhanced data visualization, real-time decision-making support, performance monitoring, and improved transparency in health service delivery
Ongoing
60%
 Sep 01,2022 Dec 01,2027 bebanya@who.int
Empowering healthcare providers to enhance skills and knowledge in tobacco control and public health risk communication Trained healthcare providers on risk communication strategies for tobacco control and COVID-19 mitigation, focusing on public engagement and policy advocacy. Strengthened capacities of primary healthcare professionals to implement tobacco cessation programs in alignment with the Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC). Developed and disseminated guidelines for integrating tobacco cessation services within primary healthcare centers. Established a monitoring framework to assess the impact of smoking cessation interventions on population health. Expanded community awareness programs to promote smoking cessation and public health risk reduction.
Completed
100%
 Apr 01,2020 Dec 31,2024 bebanya@who.int
Technical support and assistance for polio eradication and post-polio transition planning Successfully guided Iraq’s polio transition strategy, making it the first country in the region to complete the polio transition process in 2023. Coordinated national and subnational training sessions for healthcare providers on polio surveillance, outbreak response, and vaccine stock management. Provided technical guidance in aligning Iraq’s immunization policies with the Global Polio Eradication Initiative (GPEI) roadmap
Completed
100%
 Jan 01,2021 Dec 31,2024 bebanya@who.int
Development of Iraq’s National Cancer Strategy Supported the comprehensive situation assessment of Iraq’s cancer burden, identifying key challenges and gaps in prevention, early detection, diagnosis, treatment, and palliative care, Facilitated the development of Iraq’s National Cancer Control Strategy 2025-2030, ensuring alignment with global best practices and WHO recommendations, Developed a structured monitoring framework for cancer control programs to assess progress, impact, and effectiveness of interventions, Designed a multi-tiered approach to cancer control, emphasizing prevention, early detection, treatment, survivorship, and palliative care to improve patient outcomes, Integrated cancer prevention and awareness initiatives into primary health care (PHC) services, promoting early screening and intervention strategies to improve early cancer detection rates, Established two pediatric palliative care centers in Baghdad and Basrah, improving access to specialized, multidisciplinary care for children with terminal illnesses. This initiative involved training multidisciplinary teams in both centers, equipping them with palliative care skills, psychosocial support techniques, and pain management strategies to ensure comprehensive patient-centered care, Provided policy recommendations to improve cancer care coordination, ensuring streamlined patient referral pathways and improved case management systems, Supported research and data collection mechanisms to track cancer trends, strengthen surveillance systems, and promote evidence-based policymaking for long-term cancer control strategies
On track
80%
 Jan 01,2023 Dec 31,2026 bebanya@who.int
Development of Women, Child & Adolescents’ Health Strategy (2024-2030) Formulated a national strategy with clear targets, monitoring frameworks, and implementation roadmaps for improving women, child, and adolescent health. Facilitated multi-sectoral consultations with stakeholders, including government agencies, civil society, and international partners, to ensure policy alignment with global health goals. Integrated maternal and perinatal death surveillance and response (MPDSR) mechanisms into the national health system to improve maternal mortality reduction strategies. Developed implementation mechanisms for integrating gender-sensitive and child-friendly health policies at national and local levels. Expanded school health and nutrition programs to address adolescent health and ensure early interventions for at-risk populations. Strengthened multi-sectoral coordination to enhance service delivery and accountability across maternal and child health programs. Conducted training programs for healthcare providers on adolescent-friendly services, maternal health management, and childhood disease prevention.
Completed
100%
 Jan 01,2023 Dec 31,2024 bebanya@who.int
Development of Iraq’s first Health Resources and Services Availability Monitoring System (HeRAMS) Deployed HeRAMS in 5,207 health facilities, enabling comprehensive monitoring of health resources and service availability across Iraq, Conducted extensive training workshops for MoH staff, focusing on data collection, validation, reporting, and analysis to ensure accuracy and consistency in health system assessments, Enhanced MoH’s capacity to track and analyze service availability, leading to evidence-based decision-making, resource allocation, and policy planning for health services, Facilitated HeRAMS integration into national health information systems, ensuring sustainability and long-term utilization of the tool for strategic planning, Provided technical support to institutionalize HeRAMS, enabling routine monitoring and periodic assessments to identify service gaps and prioritize healthcare investments, Strengthened multi-sectoral coordination for health system improvement, utilizing HeRAMS data to support emergency preparedness, response planning, and service delivery optimization
Completed
100%
 Jun 28,2022 Jan 30,2025 bebanya@who.int
Improving Access to Essential Health Products and Medicines Assessed the local pharmaceutical manufacturing capacity in Iraq, identifying gaps and opportunities for enhancing the local production of essential medicines, Coordinated with relevant stakeholders to support Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP) compliance for local pharmaceutical manufacturers, ensuring adherence to international quality and safety standards, Strengthened Iraq’s pharmacovigilance system, enhancing the country’s ability to monitor, detect, and respond to adverse drug reactions (ADRs) and ensure patient safety, Supported Iraq’s participation in WHO’s Collaborative Registration Process (CRP), streamlining the registration and approval of quality-assured medicines and vaccines to facilitate faster access to essential health products.
On track
60%
 Apr 01,2024 Dec 01,2026 bebanya@who.int
Support and advocate for the participation of primary care physicians working in both public and private sectors in Iraq in an online capacity-building course aimed at improving the quality of primary health care practice in the context of COVID-19. Additionally, provided technical and linguistic support for the localization of training materials, including translation into Arabic, to enhance accessibility and uptake among Arabic-speaking health professionals Facilitated outreach and advocacy efforts to encourage enrollment of Iraqi primary care physicians in the online training, ensuring wider participation from both public and private healthcare providers
, ranslated and localized the online training material into Arabic, ensuring cultural and linguistic appropriateness to enhance learning outcomes for Arabic-speaking physicians, Provided technical assistance to adapt training content to the Iraqi healthcare context, incorporating local case studies, guidelines, and best practices, Supported the promotion and dissemination of the training program through MoH networks, professional medical associations, and digital platforms, enabling wider accessibility to primary care physicians across Iraq
Completed
100%
 Apr 01,2020 Dec 12,2021 bebanya@who.int
Establishment of an Event-Based Surveillance (EBS) System Developed and finalized Iraq’s National EBS Guidelines, outlining protocols for real-time disease detection, reporting, and response mechanisms., Conducted comprehensive training programs for health workers, epidemiologists, and public health professionals on the use of EBS tools and procedures, enhancing their capacity to detect and respond to potential health threats., Piloted EBS in multiple governorates, including Dhi Qar, Karbala, Baghdad-Al Rasafa, Ninawa, and the Kurdistan Region, testing system functionality and reporting mechanisms, Scaled up the EBS system to over 1,000 health facilities, significantly strengthening Iraq’s ability to detect and monitor outbreaks, unusual health events, and potential epidemic threats., Integrated the EBS system into the District Health Information System 2 (DHIS2), ensuring digital reporting and real-time data visualization for improved public health decision-making, Established early warning mechanisms, resulting in faster outbreak response times, enhanced public health surveillance, and improved disease control measures, Provided ongoing technical support to ensure continuous functionality, including data validation, quality assurance, and coordination with MoH and WHO experts for system sustainability, Progress made to link the EBS to a digital DHIS2 response platform, ensuring real-time data reporting and visualization for enhanced outbreak response, Progress made in Establishing a specific EBS system for mass gatherings, addressing the unique health surveillance needs during Iraq’s major religious pilgrimage events, particularly Al-Arbaeenia in Karbala, which hosts over 15 million visitors in one month
On track
80%
 Jan 12,2024 Dec 12,2025 bebanya@who.int
Rapid assessment of the provision of noncommunicable disease (NCD) services during the COVID-19 pandemic Conducted a nationwide rapid assessment to evaluate the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the availability, accessibility, and continuity of NCD services across Iraq, Engaged with key stakeholders, including the Iraqi Ministry of Health (MoH), health facility managers, and frontline healthcare providers, to collect data on service disruptions, adaptations, and resilience measures, Analyzed disruptions in essential NCD services, including screenings, routine check-ups, treatment adherence, and medication availability, identifying gaps and emerging challenges in healthcare delivery, Provided key findings and recommendations to strengthen Iraq’s NCD service delivery system in future health crises, Proposed policy recommendations to enhance health system preparedness and resilience, ensuring continuity of NCD care during emergencies, Facilitated discussions and knowledge-sharing sessions with health authorities and policymakers to integrate lessons learned from the COVID-19 response into Iraq’s national health planning and emergency preparedness strategies
Completed
100%
 Apr 01,2020 Dec 31,2020 bebanya@who.int
Strengthening Health Governance and Leadership Developed a concept note in coordination with MOH and EMRO and in partnership with the WB to implement leadership training modules for MoH officials, focusing on governance, strategic planning, and service optimization. Conducted governance workshops for health sector coordination. Strengthened health governance through data-driven decision-making and policy execution.
On track
50%
 Apr 01,2024 Dec 31,2026 bebanya@who.int
Supporting the development of national health care financing strategies towards UHC Advocated for the development of a comprehensive national health financing strategy, ensuring enhanced coordination among stakeholders, Supported building the health financing team’s capacity, focusing on National Health Accounts (NHA) development, costing of strategies, action plans, and disease-specific costing. Raised awareness on SHA 2011 and HAPT, discussed challenges in data collection from different sources, introduced data collection templates extracted from HAPT, highlighted policy implications of health accounts for sustainability, and supported institutionalization of health accounts in Iraq, Conducted situation analyses to assess health system performance, identifying key financing challenges and opportunities. Developed strategic policy recommendations to steer the health system towards financial sustainability, Finalized and comleted the Iraq COVID-19 Expenditure Study (2020)
Ongoing
100%
 Jan 01,2019 Dec 31,2024 bebanya@who.int
Support MoH with the establishment of a transparent and accountable administration and institutions aligned with the MoH Strategy Advocated for governance reforms through high-level policy dialogues, emphasizing the need for transparent and accountable health administration

, Provided technical guidance on best practices for institutional restructuring and health system governance, Engaged with key decision-makers to promote the adoption of governance frameworks aligned with WHO recommendations, Developed policy briefs highlighting international best practices and governance models applicable to Iraq’s health sector, Facilitated capacity-building initiatives for MoH leadership and senior officials to enhance their ability to implement governance reforms
Ongoing
50%
 Jan 01,2020 Jun 30,2025 bebanya@who.int
A study to assess and explore the potential role of the private health sector in response to COVID-19. Conducted a comprehensive study to assess the potential role and contributions of the private health sector (PHS) in responding to public health emergencies, particularly during COVID-19
, Analyzed Iraq’s legislative and regulatory framework, identifying barriers and gaps that hinder private sector engagement in emergency responses, Mapped and assessed private sector health facilities, their capacity, readiness, and role in supporting Iraq’s COVID-19 response and future emergencies, Engaged with key stakeholders, including the Iraqi Ministry of Health, private healthcare providers, policymakers, and emergency response teams, through consultations, interviews, and multi-sectoral meetings, Identified legal and policy restrictions that limit private sector participation in emergency response efforts and proposed policy recommendations to foster public-private partnerships (PPP), Developed an evidence-based report, outlining the current and potential contributions of PHS, policy gaps, and strategic recommendations to enhance private sector integration into Iraq’s health emergency response system, Proposed a roadmap to reform outdated health governance frameworks, ensuring private sector inclusion in public health emergency planning and response, Highlighted best practices from regional and global models, showcasing successful public-private collaboration in health emergencies that could be adapted to Iraq’s context
Completed
100%
 Mar 18,2020 Dec 31,2020 bebanya@who.int
Support implementation of a study to assess the role and engagement of the private health sector (PHS) in emergency care systems (ECS) in the EMR, including in the current COVID-19 response Conducted a comprehensive study assessing the engagement of the private health sector (PHS) in emergency care systems (ECS), particularly in COVID-19 response efforts within Iraq and the broader Eastern Mediterranean Region (EMR).
, Mapped existing private sector facilities and their role in emergency health service delivery, identifying barriers and opportunities for strengthening ECS collaboration., Engaged key stakeholders, including MoH officials, private sector representatives, and emergency response teams, through consultations, interviews, and roundtable discussions to align efforts and strengthen public-private collaboration in ECS, Developed policy recommendations for integrating private sector contributions into Iraq’s national ECS framework, ensuring a coordinated response to future health emergencies, Facilitated workshops and capacity-building sessions for MoH staff and emergency response teams to enhance coordination and response mechanisms with private healthcare providers, Produced a final assessment report, which serves as a baseline for strengthening public-private partnerships (PPP) in emergency health service delivery in Iraq
Completed
100%
 Nov 12,2020 Dec 31,2022 bebanya@who.int
Supporting the development of a comprehensive plan of action for GPW13 and SDGs monitoring road map Supported the development of Iraq’s Health Information System (HIS) draft national action plan (2020-2024), defining key priority areas crucial for strengthening HIS to effectively monitor progress toward SDG achievement. Advocated for the national development and implementation of a digital-health transformation strategy in Iraq. Provided technical guidance and support for the design and implementation of DHIS2. Finalized and submitted a proposal for DHIS2 implementation to the Iraqi Ministry of Health, detailing key implementation phases. Established a monthly multi-stakeholder coordination mechanism to align efforts, assign roles and responsibilities, and develop a timeline for DHIS2 deployment. Strengthened evidence-based decision-making through enhanced digital health governance.
Completed
100%
 Jan 01,2020 Feb 28,2023 bebanya@who.int
Strengthen capacities for health workforce governance and regulation Developed a dynamic electronic dashboard to enhance evidence-based decision-making in human resources management. This tool enabled real-time tracking of workforce distribution, skill mix, and gaps, improving health workforce planning and deployment.

Strengthened the Ministry of Health’s (MoH) capacity by providing training on data entry tools, quality assurance mechanisms, and analytical tools, including Microsoft Power BI. Additionally, introduced system integration tools using APIs to enhance interoperability, empowering the MoH to sustain and scale its health workforce monitoring system for informed decision-making
Completed
100%
 Jan 01,2020 Dec 31,2024 bebanya@who.int
Providing technical assistance to ensure equitable, integrated, people-centred service delivery systems in place with family health approaches at PHCs Strengthened Primary Health Care (PHC) in Iraq through the implementation of the Astana Declaration via the regional PHC Measurement and Improvement (PHCMI) Initiative. Led the development of Iraq’s first PHC master indicator list and conducted the country’s first PHC performance measurement study. Supported the design, implementation, and monitoring of PHC improvement plans to enhance service quality and equity.
Scaled up the online Family Medicine Bridging Programme for General Practitioners (GPs), targeting 1,000 GPs between 2018–2023, with over 300 graduates. Facilitated the enrollment of Iraqi GPs in the regional Family Medicine Diploma Programme, established by EMRO in collaboration with the Arab Board and the American University of Beirut (AUB). Expanded programme enrollment in 2020, increasing the number of participating universities from 10 to 14 to accommodate more GPs.
Provided technical support for implementing health accreditation assessment recommendations in four pilot PHCs in Baghdad, leveraging accreditation tools to enhance overall PHC quality. Ensured broader accessibility and adoption of PHC best practices in Iraq by supporting the translation and dissemination of the Arabic version of Family Practice in the Eastern Mediterranean Region – Universal.
Completed
100%
 Jan 01,2019 Dec 31,2024 bebanya@who.int
Enhancing Primary Health Care Leadership and Family Medicine Integration in Iraq Supported developing a national action plan to expand the family medicine approach, strengthening PHC leadership. Conducted comprehensive assessments under the PHCP project, engaged stakeholders, and created tailored training programs for policymakers and PHC managers to strengthen leadership and management capacities for PHC professionals, ensuring better service delivery and sustainable healthcare management.
On track
90%
 Jan 01,2020 Jun 30,2025 bebanya@who.int
Providing technical support to define and adopt a Basic Health Services Package (BHSP) across levels of care Strengthened the capacity of the Iraqi Ministry of Health to develop and cost the Essential Health Services Package (EHSP) using WHO tools such as SPDI and the OneHealth Tool. Conducted training sessions and technical workshops to enhance MoH staff expertise in health service planning, prioritization, and cost analysis. Facilitated policy dialogues and stakeholder consultations to ensure the adoption and sustainability of BHSP. Developed a framework for monitoring and evaluation, ensuring that services under BHSP are aligned with UHC priorities and resource availability.
On track
90%
 Jan 01,2020 Jun 30,2025 bebanya@who.int
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