[Iraq] Enhancing capacity of a COVID-19 referral hospital for preventing and responding to COVID-19 pandemic.

As the world faces the challenge of preventing the spread of COVID-19 and strengthening its response capacity, the northern part of Iraq, where Peace Winds Japan (PWJ) operates, is also in need of action. In northern Iraq, there is a chronic lack of medical infrastructure due to the effects of prolonged conflict and resulting economic stagnation, and there are many vulnerable populations, including refugees, internally displaced persons (IDPs) and returnees.
 
In Duhok governorate, which is home to a large number of refugees and IDPs, capacity to deal with COVID-19 infections is also an issue. PWJ provided assistance to enhance capacity of a COVID-19 referral hospital in the governorate, which are designated to handle moderate to severe cases.
 
Prior to the implementation of the project, the only general hospital in Duhok governorate was also designated as a hospital for moderate to severe COVID-19 cases. However, in order to ensure people’s access to healthcare, it is important that the hospital regains its original function as a general hospital and is able to treat diseases that cannot be treated in smaller hospitals. By strengthening the capacity of the COVID-19 referral hospital, the project also contributed to the de-designation of the only general hospital in Duhok governorate as a COVID-19 designated hospital.
 

PWJ staff discussed with Directorate of Health (DoH) staff (center) at the extended prefabricated inpatient ward

 
In order to strengthen the response capacity of the designated COVID-19 referral hospital, PWJ extended a prefabricated inpatient ward to provide 10 beds for the hospital to receive critically ill patients with COVID-19 infection. In addition, PWJ installed ICU beds, ventilators, medical monitors, and suction pumps, together with the existing equipment of DoH and equipment provided by other organizations, to increase the number of critical care beds by 10.
 

Additional beds for critically ill patients

 
In addition, it is important to prevent a shortage of oxygen supply in order to provide the necessary medical care to cope with severe cases or to prevent severe illness. To this end, PWJ has provided the necessary medical facilities for patients by installing additional medical oxygen generators on the hospital premises and piping facilities for oxygen supply.
 

 
Through these assistance, PWJ has strengthened the response capacity of Duhok governorate, so that the residents including IDPs can receive the necessary treatment in case of COVID-19 infection. The results of this project were highly appreciated by the DoH and the opening ceremony of the extended ward was held on 4 January 2022 by the Director General of DoH of Duhok governorate, the Ambassador of Japan to Iraq, the UNICEF delegation, and Country Representative of PWJ Iraq program. It is expected that the hospital will be used as a designated hospital for COVID-19 infection control until the COVID-19 epidemic is under control, and thereafter as a designated hospital for infectious diseases, including but not limited to COVID-19, to support people’s access to healthcare.
 
This project was funded by Japan Platform and generous donations from our supporters. Thank you for your continuing support.
 
For more information on the opening ceremony, please refer to the relevant pages below.
https://peace-winds.org/news/20748