As the number of COVID-19 cases in Iraq continues to rise, WHO, in partnership with the Ministry of Health and its implementing partners and with valuable support from the Government of Kuwait and the European Union Civil Protection and Humanitarian Aid (ECHO), has just concluded another round of a COVID-19 awareness-raising campaign. The campaign intensified community outreach efforts to educate people on measures to limit transmission of the disease. It reached more than five million people in four densely populated and heavily affected areas in Basra, Wasit, Thi Qar and Missan.
To increase community awareness of measures to limit transmission of COVID-19, WHO and the Ministry of Health partnered with United Iraqi Medical Society, community police and the Ministry of Youth and Sports, to disseminate health education messages in these high-risk areas.
The campaign "Your health is important" was conducted in each area for four days each using 650 volunteers who used booths, mobile screens and mobile clinics to display educational videos and play audio messages on a range of protective measures. The volunteers distributed more than 360 000 pieces of educational material informing people of measures to limit transmission. The campaign was supported by a number of influential figures, including religious leaders, athletes, artists, and journalists.