§ Mr. CousinsTo ask the Secretary of State for International Development if she has received the conclusions of the World Health Organisation study on the possible increase of cancer rates in southern Iraq; and if she will make a statement. [146383]
§ Clare ShortThe World Health Organisation (WHO) have not yet undertaken this study. WHO's Head of Non-Communicable Diseases is in Baghdad this week, leading a team of experts in reviewing the Iraqi Ministry of Health's capacity in epidemiological surveillance, including their ability to monitor and register cancer, including leukaemia, across Iraq.
We have offered WHO support for improving health information systems in Iraq and are discussing funding their proposed programme to build Iraqi capacity to monitor cancer epidemiology.