Informing humanitarians worldwide 24/7 — a service provided by UN OCHA

Iraq

Enduring effects of war health in Iraq 2004

Attachments


This report assesses the impact of the recent war in Iraq and the ensuing period of insecurity on health, the health care system and health reconstruction initiatives. It describes the reported 100,000 deaths and many more injuries attributable to conflict and violence and the current pattern of mental and physical illness. It gives an overview of the Iraqi health care system and barriers to good health care including problems with access to services, fragmentation, damaged infrastructure, inadequate medical supplies and poorly trained and supported health workers. It also highlights problems with the infrastructure that influence health, such as water and sanitation. In analysing the efforts at reconstruction, it highlights the inadequacies and challenges of efforts to build a new health system based on primary health care principles, freely available to all.

Keywords: conflict, security, health, health care, international development, Iraq

This report and an executive summary are available in English and Arabic, along with updates on the Iraq Health Monitoring Project, from the Medact office and on the Medact web site - http://www.medact.org

Medact
Challenging barriers to health

Published In London, UK, 2004 by Medact
The Grayston Centre, 28 Charles Square, London N1 6HT, United Kingdom
T +44 (0) 20 7324 4739 F +44 (0) 20 7324 4734
E info@medact.org Website at http://www.medact.org

Registered charity 1081097 Company reg no 2267125

(pdf * format - 228 KB)