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28 March 2003

WHO Gets $10 Million USAID Grant for Health Program in Iraq

(Will identify population's immediate health needs, USAID says) (460)
The U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) announced it has
awarded the World Health Organization (WHO) a $10 million grant to
strengthen the health system in Iraq.
WHO will work with Iraq's Ministry of Health to identify the
population's immediate short-term health needs, according to a USAID
press release.
The health agency will monitor diseases, respond to outbreaks of
communicable disease, rehabilitate health facilities, train health
personnel, and provide technical assistance to the health ministry,
the press release said.
The country's health system has suffered from decades of
deterioration, the release added.
Following is the text of USAID's press release:
(begin text)
March 28, 2003
WASHINGTON, DC -- The U.S. Agency for International Development
(USAID) has awarded a $10 million, one-year grant to the World Heath
Organization (WHO) to strengthen the overall health system in Iraq.
This grant will build upon WHO's on-going efforts in the country; the
agency has been working with the Iraqi health authorities since 1947.
This grant is part of USAID's planned reconstruction assistance to the
Iraqi people to help maintain stability, ensure the delivery of
essential services, and facilitate economic recovery.
The health sector in Iraq has suffered from decades of deterioration
in infrastructure, technical and managerial capacity, and weakened
essential public services. Many Iraqis, especially women and children,
are extremely vulnerable and are at greater risk for disease and
infection. Under the terms of the grant, WHO will work with the
Ministry of Health to identify and address the most immediate and
short-term health needs of the population while also strengthening
health sector policy and systems such as health information. Specific
activities supported under the grant include monitoring diseases and
health status, responding to outbreaks of communicable diseases,
rehabilitating health facilities and laboratories, training health
staff, and assisting in the management and coordination of donor
support and health partners working in Iraq.
WHO will use both the Iraq Health Information System and
non-traditional information sources such as surveys, rapid assessments
and other studies to identify gaps in the Iraqi health system and
prioritize activities. Technical expertise will be provided to the
Ministry of Health at the local and national levels with the goal of
strengthening the overall capacity of the Ministry of Health to manage
the country's health system, including health policy analysis and
strategic planning; monitoring and evaluation; management of human
resources; service delivery, and administration of health
institutions.
WHO is expected to coordinate with national health authorities and
multilateral and donor partners including USAID in order to respond to
overall health needs and gaps. This grant will serve to complement
humanitarian efforts by addressing critical institutional development
of the overall health systems.
(end text)
(Distributed by the Office of International Information Programs, U.S.
Department of State. Web site: http://usinfo.state.gov)