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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 2022 in Iraq

Data and information from the International Activity Report 2022.

MSF in Iraq in 2022 Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) continued to work across Iraq in 2022, filling gaps in healthcare exacerbated by war and conflict, and the COVID-19 pandemic.
Iraq IAR map 2022

After years of conflict and instability, Iraq has started to see some signs of recovery, but its healthcare system is still far from being able to fulfil all the medical needs of people, especially in areas directly affected by the most recent war with the Islamic State group.

In 2022, MSF worked in 10 projects across Baghdad, Ninewa, Kirkuk, Erbil and Dhi Qar. We offered a wide range of general and specialist medical services and support to people living in areas affected by the war, returnees from long periods of displacement in camps or other regions of the country, and communities with poor access to healthcare. Services included emergency, maternal and neonatal care, specialist orthopaedic and maternity surgery, comprehensive post-operative rehabilitation and care, treatment for non-communicable diseases, and mental health support. We also provided medical supplies, technical training, and support for emergency preparedness and response in several health facilities across the country.

Patients requiring advanced surgical care were referred to MSF’s reconstructive surgery programme in Amman, Jordan, which has been conducting orthopaedic, plastic and maxillofacial surgery for patients from Iraq and other countries in the Middle East since 2006.

In Baghdad, we continued to collaborate with the National Tuberculosis Institute, working on switching drug-resistant TB patients from injections to newer, more effective oral drugs.

Our teams also assisted the Iraqi health authorities with the response to COVID-19. We provided intensive care treatment, patient isolation (for mild and moderate cases), and health promotion campaigns to encourage vaccination. In all our regular activities, we implemented strict infection prevention and control measures to protect patients and staff from catching or spreading COVID-19.

 

In 2022
 
Health facilities damaged inside Mosul
Iraq

Medical care in West Mosul: “There are no heroes in this story, only victims”.

Voices from the Field 6 Jul 2017
 
Mosul Healthcare
Iraq

A difficult journey of healing for war-wounded residents in Mosul

Project Update 3 Jul 2017
 
MSF Supported Primary Healthcare Centre, South of Mosul
Iraq

Crisis update - 29 June 2017

Crisis Update 29 Jun 2017
 
Healthcare in Ameriyat al Fallujah
Iraq

Mental health needs mount after years of war

Project Update 15 Jun 2017
 
Post Operative Care in South Mosul, Iraq
Iraq

Crisis update Mosul - May 2017

Crisis Update 8 May 2017
 
Providing care to displaced communities, Tikrit district, Iraq.
Iraq

“We walked all night, staying away from roads for fear of being caught”

Project Update 11 Apr 2017
 
Mosul : Civilians caught in crossfire
Iraq

The patients we receive are the “lucky ones”

Voices from the Field 4 Apr 2017
 
Zummar Maternity / IPD - March 2017
Iraq

Stabilising emergencies in a pocket of safety

Project Update 3 Apr 2017
 
Mosul : Civilians caught in crossfire
Iraq

“Yesterday, it was calm; we only received 20 war-wounded patients”

Voices from the Field 22 Mar 2017

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13 June 2018