WHO and the Ministry of Health, on behalf of the Government of Iraq, signed round 15 of a joint planning exercise for the biennium 2012–2013 during a press conference conducted today at the Ministry of Health premises in Baghdad.
H.E. Dr Majeed Hamad Amin, the Minister of Health of Iraq stated, “This important operational collaborative planning exercise, which takes place every two years, is an integral part of programme management and the consultative process between the Government and WHO. It highlights Iraq’s national priorities for the health sector and identifies WHO strategic directions to support the Government”. His Excellency acknowledged the importance of this strategic exercise to meet Iraq’s health needs, achieve the targets of the Millennium Development Goals and assure the right to health for all.
Dr Syed Jaffar Hussain, WHO Representative in Iraq, reaffirmed WHO’s commitment to strengthen the health system for equity and development in Iraq and said, “This document has been developed in line with national, regional and global health policies and priorities. The Ministry of Health, in collaboration with WHO, has translated its national strategic agenda to specific operational activities, established monitoring and evaluation mechanisms, proposed financial requirements and identified results and measurable targets to be achieved over a two-year period”.
The collaborative programme focuses mainly on five areas of work – health system, social determinants of health, maternal and child health, communicable and non-communicable diseases. One of the main projects to be implemented by the Ministry, with the full support of WHO, is the Iraq Public Sector Mobilization project, a US$ 55 million project funded by the United Nations Development Group Iraq Trust Fund. The project aims at expediting health service delivery to all Iraqi citizens at all levels, including at provincial and regional levels.
The successful implementation of the collaborative programme will be guaranteed though effective utilization of resources within the framework of the joint planning mission, ongoing evaluation, strengthening of the health system and close cooperation and coordination between partners.
The joint collaborative programme for 2012–2013 was developed after a five-day exercise conducted in Baghdad from 18 to 22 September 2011. More than 20 WHO international experts and approximately 100 high-level officials from the Ministries of Health, Finance, Planning, Environment, Education, Interior, Defense and Municipality, representatives from UN agencies and civil society took part in the exercise.
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