Mission Iraq

While millions of Iraqis face armed violence and insecurity on a daily basis, the country is also experiencing an unprecedented humanitarian crisis. Two million Iraqis are displaced within the country and some of the population, including many doctors, have sought refuge in neighbouring countries. In this situation, where access to healthcare for the civilian population is severely hampered, MdM is training local teams to be able to respond better to medical emergencies in those governorates which are worst affected by violence.

Treating medical emergencies in Iraq - Diyala, Kirkuk, Ninewa, Babylone, Karbala and Nadjaf governorates

Activities :

From the base in Amman, MdM has developed activities to support a local team and Iraqi NGOs and organisations:

• providing first aid training for the population in six governorates in Iraq;
• training community midwives in Diyala governorates;
• development of a reference manual on integration of mental health into primary healthcare, in collaboration with WHO and the Iraqi Ministry of Health;
• provision of medical equipment and supplies to a mother and child hospital in Mossul.

Outlook :

• Continue the training in treatment of pre-hospital emergencies for doctors and medical assistants in Kurdistan and the North Central governorates, and for community midwives in Kirkuk and Baaqouba.
• Working in partnership with the health authorities to improve the treatment for psychiatric problems in
Karbala governorate.
• A project with Iraqi refugees in Syria is under development.

August 2008