Iraq (Hansard, 15 July 2003)

§ Mr. Paul Marsden
To ask the Minister of State, Department for International Development what requests the Department has received for medical drugs from health professionals in Iraq. [124678]

§ Hilary Benn
We have received no specific requests for drugs from health professionals in Iraq.
The World Health Organisation's assessment is that there is no overall shortage of medical supplies in Iraq, although there are still shortages of drugs for some specific conditions. The drugs supply pipeline is funded until spring 2004.
In Basra, an oxygen shortfall has resulted from production problems in local manufacturing plants. Immediate emergency needs have been met by importing oxygen from Kuwait. Work is under way to restore existing production capacity in Basra, and ultimately to install new production capacity which would also improve the quality of the oxygen supplied for medical use.
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DFID's assistance to health and nutrition in the current crisis is channelled through United Nations agencies, the Red Cross and Red Crescent movement. Save the Children Fund, CARE and a number of other non-governmental organisations. £12 million has been allocated specifically to health and nutrition activities (not including food aid); £35 million has also been allocated to humanitarian agencies, not earmarked to specific sectors, a proportion of which is being spent in the health sector.

§ Adam Price
To ask the Minister of State, Department for International Development what recent assessment the Department has made of the rate of child illness in Iraq. [125234]

§ Hilary Benn
Before the recent conflict, the effects of mismanagement, war, migration of medical staff and economic sanctions had significantly weakened Iraq's capacity to protect the health of its children: almost a third of children in the centre and south suffered from chronic malnutrition; the prevalence of low birth-weight babies had increased more than five-fold over the previous 10 years; and the under-five mortality rate, at 131 per 1,000 live births, was very high. Immediately after the recent conflict, looting, insecurity and an initial breakdown of public services exacerbated existing problems. Increased levels of diarrhoea and vaccine-preventable diseases among children were reported.
Subsequently, progress has been made in restoring health services and clean water supplies. UNICEF has re-started routine vaccination, including a catch-up campaign for children who missed immunisation during the conflict. Sufficient vaccines are now in Iraq for six to eight months of vaccinations. The Coalition Provisional Authority has announced that public health spending in the July to December 2003 budget will be US$210 million, including $125 million for supplies and equipment and $31 million for generators to supply power to hospitals in Baghdad.
DFID's assistance to health and nutrition in the current crisis is channelled through United Nations agencies, the Red Cross and Red Crescent movement, Save the Children Fund, CARE and a number of other non-governmental organisations. £12 million has been allocated specifically to health and nutrition activities (not including food aid); £35 million has also been allocated to humanitarian agencies, not earmarked to specific sectors, a proportion of which is being spent in the health sector.

§ Adam Price
To ask the Minister of State, Department for International Development what recent assessment the Department has made of the state of Iraqi hospitals. [125246]

§ Hilary Benn
Hospital infrastructure was little damaged during the recent conflict, but the health care system was badly affected by the subsequent insecurity in which equipment and supplies were looted and water and electricity systems disrupted. The United Nations reported in June 2003 that Iraq's health system was functioning at only 30 to 50 per cent. of its pre-conflict capacity.
Some progress is being made. All 240 hospitals in the country are in operation. The Coalition Provisional Authority is making considerable efforts to improve the 178W water supply, sanitation, power and security difficulties. Coalition forces have been training Iraqi security staff to guard medical facilities. The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) has been active throughout Iraq replacing missing equipment, and supplying water, power, and medical supplies. Regular salary payments to hospital staff have been resumed.
The Coalition Provisional Authority has announced that public health spending in the July to December 2003 budget will be US$210 million, including $125 million for supplies and equipment and $31 million for generators to supply power to hospitals in Baghdad.
DFID's assistance to health and nutrition in the current crisis is channelled through United Nations agencies, the Red Cross and Red Crescent movement, Save the Children Fund, CARE and a number of other non-governmental organisations. £12 million has been allocated specifically to health and nutrition activities (not including food aid); £35 million has also been allocated to humanitarian agencies, not earmarked to specific sectors, a proportion of which is being spent in the health sector.