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AL-Wahda Hospital
The effects of years of conflict and instability continue to be felt in Iraq. Despite the resumption of services in some health facilities, the country’s public health system is still far from making a full recovery.

While over 4.8 million people have managed to return home, around 1.1 million people remain displaced across 18 governorates*. Both returnees and those still displaced struggle to access basic services and job opportunities. 

The healthcare system is unable to fulfil the needs of people, which is exacerbated by the shortages of specialist healthcare workers and drugs.

Our teams in Iraq continue to bridge the most pressing gaps in access to healthcare in four governorates. We provide general, maternal, neonatal, and mental healthcare, in addition to surgical procedures, post-operative care and rehabilitation, treatment for non-communicable diseases and emergency medical care.

*http://iraqdtm.iom.int/ - IOM

Why are we here?

Our activities in 2023 in Iraq

Data and information from the International Activity Report 2023.

MSF in Iraq in 2023 Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) ran a diverse range of health services across Iraq in 2023, serving hard-to-reach communities and people affected by years of conflict.
Iraq IAR map 2023

Despite signs of improvements after decades of fighting and war, Iraq’s public healthcare sector is still recovering and there are significant needs, particularly in remote areas and regions directly affected by the recent conflict with the Islamic State group.

As international resources have been reallocated to other regions in the world and assistance has decreased in Iraq, the country is facing the major challenge of rebuilding and rehabilitating its infrastructure and public services, including public healthcare.

In 2023, MSF teams worked in 11 locations across Iraq, delivering a wide range of essential and specialised medical services to residents of areas with limited access to healthcare, as well as to people returning home after prolonged displacement in camps or other regions within the country.

Our activities included maternal, paediatric and neonatal services, emergency medical care, sexual and reproductive healthcare, specialised orthopaedic and obstetric surgery, comprehensive post-surgical rehabilitation, treatment for non-communicable diseases, and mental health support. In addition, we supported healthcare facilities across Iraq with donations of medical supplies and technical training for staff, and strengthened local health authorities’ preparedness for emergencies.

We also continued to assist the National Tuberculosis Institute with the administration of oral treatment regimens for patients with drug-resistant tuberculosis.

During the year, we organised several referrals for Iraqi patients requiring specialist surgical care to MSF’s reconstructive surgery hospital in Amman, Jordan.

 

In 2023
 
Iraq-IDPs from Sinjar District
Iraq

MSF responding to dramatic influx of displaced people from Sinjar

Project Update 13 Aug 2014
 
Journal article

Highly Drug-Resistant Pathogens Implicated in Burn-Associated Bacteremia in an Iraqi Burn Care Unit

11 Aug 2014
Journal article
 
Iraq - Medical care for those displaced by fighting in areas between Dohuk and Mosul
Iraq

Hospitals destroyed by air strikes leave Iraqis without healthcare

Press Release 24 Jul 2014
 
Dr Raid Umran, Al Zahaara hospital, Irak
Iraq

“We have managed to reduce the mortality rates, even though admissions have risen”

Voices from the Field 22 Jul 2014
 
Iraq - Medical care for those displaced by fighting in areas between Dohuk and Mosul
Iraq

“Today the greatest medical needs remain in areas that are extremely difficult and dangerous to reach”

Project Update 21 Jul 2014
 
Iraq

“There are severe shortages of drugs, and medical staff are fleeing the conflict areas en masse”

Voices from the Field 20 Jun 2014
 
Refugee Doctors
Refugees, IDPs and people on the move

Dr Media Rasheed's interview

Voices from the Field 20 Jun 2014
 
Refugee Doctors
Refugees, IDPs and people on the move

Dr Hamza Issa's interview

Voices from the Field 20 Jun 2014
 
Refugee Doctors
Refugees, IDPs and people on the move

Dr Muhammed Selim's interview

Voices from the Field 20 Jun 2014

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13 June 2018