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From The Economist.
Iraq is too broken to protect itself from covid-19
Most Arab regimes have dealt with covid-19 by tightening their grip. Not Iraq. It gave up on lockdowns long ago.
The government seems powerless to enforce social distancing or the wearings of masks (some men see the coverings as an insult to their virility).
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The post Iraq “Too Broken to Protect itself from Covid-19” first appeared on Iraq Business News.
By John Lee.
The Ambassador of Republic of Iraq in London, Mr. Muhammad Jaafar Al-Sadr, chaired a meeting with representatives of the British pharmaceutical group, AstraZeneca, which is a leading company in Coronavirus vaccine in cooperation with the University of Oxford in Britain, through video conference.
The meeting discussed the possibility of Iraq obtaining adequate doses of the vaccine produced by the company that are being developed, in addition to the possibility of the early launch of the vaccine.
During the meeting, the Ambassador thanked the group for the efforts made by the company to produce the vaccine, which would be a scientific achievement to protect humanity from the risks of infection with the Coronavirus, stressing Iraq’s desire to obtain the vaccine after its production.
While the company has expressed its readiness to supply Iraq with the vaccine after the last experimental stages which will be ready by the end of this year, especially after making sure of its safety, effectiveness and compliance with international health standards. The company is conducting clinical trials of the vaccine in several regions of the world, including the United States, Russia and a number of Latin American countries.
This meeting comes within a series of meetings held by the embassy with the company and other pharmaceutical companies in order to ensure that Iraq receives the vaccine in the start of its production.
(Source: Iraqi Ministry of Foreign Affairs)
The post Iraq discusses sourcing Covid Vaccine with AstraZeneca first appeared on Iraq Business News.
By John Lee.
The new Chair of Iraq’s National Investment Commission (NIC) has been visiting investment opportunites throughout the country.
During a visit to Wasit Province, Suha Dawood Najar (pictured) said that Iraqi investors hae the financial and professional capacity to gear up with the Iraqi economy, especially if partnered and supported by the government.
In Kerbala [Karbala] she visited the Imam Hussein Hospital for Cancer, and other locations.
(Source: NIC)
The post NIC’s New Chair visits Wasit, Kerbala first appeared on Iraq Business News.
By John Lee.
Iraq’s Higher Committee for Health and National Safety has decided to “ban the entry into Iraq of visitors from all countries“. The move is an attempt to combat the coronavirus (Covid-19).
This will create problems for religious pilgrims hoping to attend the Shi’ite Muslim gathering of Arbaeen, held in early October, which would normally bring millions of people to the holy city of Kerbala.
According to Iran’s Tasnim news agency, Iraq’s Ambassador to Iran, Nasir Abdul Muhsin, confirmed that no foreign pilgrim will be permitted to visit Iraq for this year’s mourning rituals marking Arbaeen.
(Sources: Govt of Iraq, Tasnim)
The post Iraq Bans Foreign Arbaeen Pilgrims over COVID-19 Fears first appeared on Iraq Business News.
By John Lee.
The Iraqi Cabinet held its weekly meeting on Tuesday under the chairmanship of Prime Minister Mustafa Al-Kadhimi, at which it agreed to:
(Source: Govt of Iraq)
The post Iraqi Cabinet Approves Loans from Saudi Arabia first appeared on Iraq Business News.
By John Lee.
Iraq’s Higher Committee for Health and National Safety held a meeting on Tuesday under the chairmanship of Prime Minister Mustafa Al-Kadhimi.
At the start of the meeting, the Prime Minister paid tribute to Iraq’s medical and nursing professionals for being on the frontline during the Covid-19 pandemic.
In his briefing to the Committee, the Minister of Heath said that Iraq has increased its Covid-19 testing capabilities.
According to a statement from the Government of Iraq, the Director of the World Health Organization’s Office in Iraq, Dr. Adham Rashad Ismail, praised the Iraqi government’s efforts in response to the pandemic, and the measures taken by the Ministry of Health which contributed to a death-rate from of 2.9% which is lower than the global rate.
Following discussions, the Committee decided to:
The Committee urged all Iraqis to continue to remain vigilant and to follow the official guidance of the Ministry of Health including adhering to preventive health and social distancing measures.
(Source: Govt of Iraq)
The post Iraq Relaxes Coronavirus Restrictions first appeared on Iraq Business News.
UNICEF aims to train 30,000 primary health care workers in Iraq in efforts to prevent and control Covid-19 infection
With numbers soaring since early June, as of the end of August Iraq has confirmed 231,177 cases of COVID-19 and 6959 deaths.
To stem the tide against the pandemic, UNICEF is supporting the training of an estimated 30,000 health care providers at the primary care level, with the aim of disseminating key information about COVID-19 infection, prevention and control, with a special focus on preventing infection among health providers.
Iraq is using a cascade approach for this massive exercise, with online training of 132 national officials from the Ministry of Health over four days in July, and over 580 personnel from the Primary Health Care departments at governorate- and district-level last week.
These subnational personnel will proceed to train primary care staff in person in coming weeks, thereby ensuring that their newly acquired knowledge is shared widely with other frontline health workers.
“Frontline health workers are the unsung heroes in Iraq’s fight against COVID-19. Day after day, they continue to show up and provide critical services to those most in need, risking their lives,” said Paula Bulancea, UNICEF’s Deputy Representative in Iraq.
“This training will build on UNICEF’s ongoing support to health workers and vulnerable communities in Iraq as we work together and with all of our partners in government, the World Health Organization, and in non-government organizations, to control this deadly virus,” Dr. Bulancea added.
The cascade training will cover the needs of health workers providing immunization, maternal and neonatal care and nutrition services. It will also focus on water and sanitation in the primary health care setting in the context of COVID19.
“Simple acts such as washing your hands after seeing every patient, ensuring that you maintain social distancing with caregivers when vaccinating a child, and wearing a mask at all times will go a long way in ensuring that the safety of healthcare workers isn’t compromised on the job,” remarked Dr. Bulancea.
In addition to training health workers, UNICEF has:
(Source: UN)
The post UNICEF aims to Train 30,000 Healthcare Workers first appeared on Iraq Business News.
By Hanar Marouf, for the Atlantic Council. Any opinions expressed here are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of Iraq Business News.
Iraq’s government needs more female voices to fight the pandemic
Iraq is in a precarious condition. It has faced major challenges on multiple fronts, including political instability, a drop in oil prices, and the economic fallout amid the coronavirus outbreak.
While the government deliberates protection measures, the capacity of hospitals and staff remain limited.
The rampant spread of the virus, with an average of 3,000 daily infections, has only been exacerbated by a lack of concrete emergency plans. Up to mid-August, Iraq had 150,000 cases and 5,400 deaths.
On Wednesday in Washington, the United States announced nearly $204 million in additional humanitarian assistance for the people of Iraq, Iraqi refugees in the region, and to generous communities hosting them.
This funding includes nearly $133 million from the State Department’s Bureau of Population, Refugees, and Migration and more than $71 million from USAID‘s Bureau for Humanitarian Assistance.
This funding brings the total for the U.S. humanitarian response for Iraq to more than $706 million since the beginning of Fiscal Year 2019. In addition, the United States has provided $49.5 million in COVID assistance in Iraq and more than $22.7 million to date in Fiscal Year 2020 to assist over 244,000 Syrian refugees in Iraq.
This assistance will provide critical shelter, essential healthcare, emergency food assistance, and water, sanitation, and hygiene services across Iraq. It will also improve access to civil documentation and legal services, the capacity of health care facilities and increase access to education and livelihoods opportunities.
The United States remains the largest single donor of humanitarian assistance in Iraq and globally, in line with our National Security Strategy. We appreciate all donors who have stepped up and continue to encourage both traditional and new donors to help meet growing needs.
(Source: US State Dept)
By Omar al-Jaffal for Al Monitor. Any opinions expressed here are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of Iraq Business News.
Iraq again breaks daily COVID-19 record
Iraq broke its record for daily confirmed COVID-19 cases again on Friday.
There were 4,013 new cases on Aug. 14. The highest numbers were in the capital Baghdad, Erbil in the Kurdistan Region and Basra in the south, according to the Ministry of Health.