In Iraq, WHO has succeeded in securing 300 oxygen concentrators to alleviate a severe shortage of oxygen supplies in COVID-19 case management hospitals, as cases of the virus continue to climb in the country.
The concentrators were airlifted from WHO's warehouses in the United Arab Emirates and delivered to the Ministry of Health, to be used in Iraqi hospitals according to the Ministry of Health’s distribution plan.
WHO acted urgently to support Iraq after reports emerged of severe oxygen shortages in a major hospital causing casualties among COVID-19 patients and of similar shortages in healthcare facilities in other governorates.
From March to June 2020, WHO Iraq handed over US$ 1.6 million worth of diagnostic kits, equipment and furniture, personal protective equipment, health kits and supplies to the Federal Ministry of Health and the Ministry of Health in the Kurdistan region of Iraq.
WHO and health authorities proactively coordinated a comprehensive response to the pandemic as early as January 2020. The Organization, in collaboration with the Ministry, is currently engaged in a major awareness-raising campaign targeting people living in 10 heavily affected areas in Baghdad. More than 250 community volunteers have been mobilized to deliver educational messages from 29 June to 28 July 2020.
WHO’s support was made possible thanks to generous donations from Kuwait and the EU (ECHO).