UNICEF donates personal protective equipment worth more than 2.5 million to the Kurdistan Region Min

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[size=52]UNICEF donates personal protective equipment worth more than 2.5 million to the Kurdistan Region Ministry of Health[/size]

[size=45]The equipment includes protective suits, protective masks and goggles, among others, and will be distributed by the Ministry of Health in the Kurdistan Region, as part of UNICEF's commitment to support the response to the COVID-19 pandemic in Iraq.[/size]
[size=45]Erbil, 12 December 2022 - UNICEF today delivered personal protective equipment (PPE) worth $2.5 million to the Ministry of Health of the Kurdistan Region of Iraq. The handover ceremony took place in the presence of the Minister of Health in the KRG, Dr. Saman Al-Barzanji, and UNICEF Representative in Iraq, Ms. Sheema Sen Gupta.[/size]
[size=45]The equipment includes protective suits, face masks, and goggles for use in the Kurdistan Region's response to the Corona pandemic. This donation is in addition to the personal protective equipment provided earlier this year, which was worth $1.23 million, to support safe practices during the coronavirus vaccination campaign in all governorates.[/size]
[size=45]COVID-19 is still with us, and we need to continue working together to avoid transmission of the new virus, which endangers public health and hampers the rights of children suffering secondary effects of the pandemic. On this occasion, Ms. Cheema Sen Gupta, UNICEF Representative in Iraq said: “These supplies demonstrate UNICEF’s continued support for Iraq’s response to the pandemic, including supporting the protection of health personnel on the front lines to prevent and respond to the Corona virus.”[/size]
[size=45]For his part, Dr. Saman Al-Barzanji, Minister of Health of the Kurdistan Region of Iraq, said: “I would like to highlight UNICEF's support in the past years, including immunization programs, maternal and child care programs, nutrition programs, as well as the response to the Corona virus. This PPE will enhance the capacity of the KRI Ministry of Health to respond to the current outbreak of coronavirus and other infectious diseases.”[/size]
[size=45]The PPE supplies are part of UNICEF's extensive support for the pandemic response and routine vaccination efforts in Iraq. This effort has been funded by donors, including Germany, the United States, and the European Union, and includes overseas vaccination efforts that have contributed to about 20% of the country's coronavirus vaccination efforts.[/size]
[size=45]UNICEF has also supported registration of vaccine recipients (beneficiaries) and reporting of COVID-19 vaccination efforts in more than 1,400 health institutions by providing Wi-Fi devices, paying internet subscriptions, laptops, and through capacity building for data managers. Since the COVAX effort began, UNICEF has provided more than 12 million vaccination cards and trained 7,600 health care workers in vaccine delivery, administration and adverse event management.[/size]
[size=45]As part of the work to strengthen the cold chain system, UNICEF provided this year alone 653 refrigerators, eight cold rooms, more than 2,400 vaccine carriers, 1,200 cold boxes and 10,000 thermometers, as well as installing 93 remote temperature monitoring systems in all Provinces and districts. From a technical perspective, UNICEF supported the ministry's work to improve planning capabilities, and introduced an inventory management system in 21 districts in 2022.[/size]
[size=45]All of this work has contributed to increasing immunization coverage for children under five years of age with tetanus, pertussis (DTP3) and measles vaccines, with vaccination rates of more than 90%, the highest level in two decades.[/size]
[size=45]To boost immunization efforts, by the end of the year, UNICEF and WHO will support a multi-antibody campaign for 10 working days - during which 1,053 teams will be deployed to deliver more than 1 million doses to children in remote, hard-to-reach communities.[/size]
[size=45]The end-of-year effort will be complemented by a nationwide campaign of coronavirus vaccination and prevention messages, which will be launched through television advertisements and billboards.[/size]
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[size=45]Information about UNICEF:[/size]
[size=45]UNICEF works in some of the world's toughest places to reach the world's most disadvantaged children. We work for every child, everywhere, in more than 190 countries and territories to build a better world for all. For more information about UNICEF and its work for children, please visit the following website: [You must be registered and logged in to see this link.].[/size]
[size=45]Follow UNICEF in Iraq on our website, Instagram, Twitter and Facebook.[/size]
[size=45]For more information, please contact:[/size]
[size=45]Miguel Mateos Munoz, Head of Communications and Advocacy at UNICEF Iraq,[/size]
[size=45][You must be registered and logged in to see this link.].[/size]
[size=45]Monica Awad, Media Specialist, UNICEF-Iraq,[/size]
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