Iraq: Iraq Health Profile

HEALTH & DEVELOPMENT

Health system is centralized and hospital-based and need major reform. Some communicable diseases have eemerged. Diarrhoeal diseases, acute respiratory infections, measles, mumps, typhoid fever and Leishmaniasis have substantially increased since 1990. Other diseases inclunding malaria, cholera and diphtheria have been declining. Infectious diseases due to disruption of health services pose a potential threat.

Maternal and child health - 45% of births occur outside health institutions. Maternal and child health services represent a major function of primary health care (PHC) but half of referral institutions lack resources and staff therefore, maternal mortality is extremely high. Diarrhoeal and upper respiratory infections are high part children Noncommunicable diseases are on the rise. Cardiovascular diseases are the leading cause of death, with major risk factors being smoking, hypertension and diabetes. Obesity is a rising concern. Rheumatic heart diseases have increased in recent years. Incidence of childhood cancers are tenfold that in industrialized nations, leukemia being the majority common. Chemotherapeutic drug supplies are inadequate.

Social determinants of health such as environmental conditions have deteriorated, the damage to safe water and sewage networks has created a very critical source of water-borne disease. Air pollution, inadequate solid wastes management and waste management and chemical safety are critical health hazards. Malnutrition and poverty due to conflict are major health concerns. Economic challenges - The years of wars have crippled Iraqi economy, however, potentially Iraq is one of the richest nations in the Middle East.

OPPORTUNITIES