IRAQ
INTERSOS INTERVENTION
Since the first week of March, INTERSOS medical teams have started training activities for the prevention and treatment of COVID-19 in the 10 healthcare facilities that we support in Ba’aj and Telafar, aimed at the medical staff of hospitals and other organizations. In early April, we also delivered essential medical materials to both healthcare facilities. We trained community health volunteers on risk communication related to COVID-19 in order to reach beneficiaries both within healthcare facilities and in communities. The volunteers, keeping the necessary physical distance, distribute leaflets with the basic preventive measures and collect some general information from the beneficiaries in order to contact them by phone and provide more detailed awareness sessions. In the event that a beneficiary presents symptoms attributable to COVID-19, we have set up a reporting and sending system to the nearest available healthcare facility, while still maintaining monitoring by our healthcare team. The INTERSOS education team is continuing the rehabilitation work of 8 schools and, in coordination with the teachers, is monitoring the use of e-learning platforms for each child registered in the schools we support. Still in coordination with teachers and principals, we have created a team of volunteer teachers and organized lessons at home for the most fragile students. We have also reconverted the protection activities by continuing to support over the phone the vulnerable cases taken before the emergency and, thanks to the support of outreach volunteers, we were able to identify and follow up with new cases. In June, it was possible to resume emergency cash assistance and legal support, which for the time being operates at reduced capacity due to the restrictions still in progress. Moreover, INTERSOS distributed dignity kits in Jeddah 1 and Jeddah 5 internally displaced people camps.
HIGHLIGHTS
90.135
people reached by risk communication and community engagement activities
10
healthcare facilities supported with COVID-19 preparedness and response measures
85
health staff trained
2.859
dignity kits distributed
CONTEXT
The Iraqi health system is severely short of resources and not suitable for responding to a large-scale medical emergency, in particular the needs of those living in internally displaced people camps. Considering the limited resources both in terms of supplies and medical personnel, the answer is mainly based on preventive actions and measures. At the end of September, infections in the country exceeded 358 thousand confirmed cases, an increase of 34.4% compared to the beginning of the month. Baghdad is the most affected governorate. Lockdowns preventing movements between Governorates stopped at the end of June, but movements from one governorate to another have been limited in order to prevent the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic, especially from Governorates in the south and central Iraq. Essential public and private services are resuming at reduced capacity and masks are mandatory. Schools have been closed since February, many families have lost their livelihoods and many health facilities in remote areas lack medical supplies and drugs. Air attacks continue on the border with Turkey.