Dr Georges Alfred Ki-Zerbo head of the United Nations’ World Health Organization (WHO) speaking to Rudaw’s Luna Khalid on April 7, 2024. Photo: Rudaw
ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - The new head of the United Nations’ World Health Organization (WHO) in Iraq said ongoing efforts to digitalize the health information system in Iraq and the Kurdistan Region were “essential” to modernizing healthcare in the country.
“Establishing an electronic health information system in Iraq and Kurdistan Region is an essential step towards modernizing healthcare delivery and improving health outcomes for the population,” Dr Georges Alfred Ki-Zerbo told Rudaw’s Luna Khalid on Sunday.
Building an electronic health information system began in 2022 and is making “steady progress,” he added, and said WHO is committed to working with the Iraqi and Kurdistan Region governments.
Ki-Zerbo said that the aim of WHO is to make “significant progress in enhancing the health and the wellbeing of the people in Iraq.”
Ki-Zerbo, a national of Burkina Faso, was appointed head of the WHO mission to Iraq in December.
Iraq at one time had one of the best healthcare sectors in the Middle East. It began improving the sector in the 1950s and by the 1960s, new, modern hospitals had been built throughout the country. The developments continued in the 1970s with more hospitals and health centers built, including in villages and rural areas.
The health sector entered a dark era at the beginning of the 1990s as a result of international sanctions, which led to shortages of medicines and medical equipment. Death rates among children and women notably grew and the fragile health infrastructure could not accommodate a rapidly increasing population.
After the fall of Saddam Hussein in 2003, the ruling political class attempted to redevelop the health system. However, it collapsed as a result of corruption, lack of political will, and the deteriorating security situation.
"We support Iraq's progress towards building a resilient health system,” said Ki-Zerbo, especially in the areas of “universal health coverage” and “strengthening primary health care.”
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