Iraq Crisis - Primary Health Services for Internally Displaced People - 2016

March 2016 - The humanitarian situation in Iraq continues to deteriorate. The violence between armed groups and government forces has displaced over 3.2 million people from their homes. An estimated 10 million people in Iraq have been affected by the conflict and are in need of humanitarian assistance. The capacity of the Government to respond to the basic needs of its citizens has been overwhelmed. In 2016 more people will be displaced by the conflict while many will remain displaced in camps and host communities. However there will also be growing numbers of people returning to areas no longer under the control of ISIL who will also need assistance to help restart their lives. With GAC’s support this project is supporting healthcare interventions in Dohuk and Erbil in northern Iraq to strengthen primary health care and mental health services for IDPs and to relieve stress from government primary health facilities. The project will: (1) provide primary healthcare services for up to 22 214 conflict-affected persons at static clinics in camps; (2) provide primary health care services for up to 9 543 conflict-affected persons through flexible mobile medical units in camp and non-camp locations; 3) provide community outreach services through community mobilization with the participation of up to 30 831 conflict-affected persons; 4) provide mental health and psychosocial support services in targeted health facilities for up to 5 857 conflict affected persons; and 5) provide support for existing Directorate of Health facilities through relevant trainings for emergency health response and management reaching at least 68 beneficiaries.

The expected outcomes for this project include: reduced mortality and morbidity attributed to communicable and non-communicable diseases; and alleviated suffering through the provision of primary health care mental health care and psychosocial support. The expected ultimate outcome is lives saved suffering alleviated and human dignity maintained in countries experiencing humanitarian crisis or that are food insecure.