A one-month campaign in Baghdad targeted more than 6 million people in 10 heavily populated and COVID-19-affected districts with health promotion and awareness messages to limit transmission of COVID-19, following an increase in the number of cases reported in the country.
The campaign, called "Your health is important", was organized by WHO and the Ministry of Health, in partnership with the United Iraqi Medical Society, the Ministry of Youth and Sports and community police.
Two hundred and fifty volunteers used booths, mobile screens and mobile clinics to display educational videos and play audio messages on a variety of protective measures. They also distributed face masks, hand sanitizers and flyers, and informed the public of the importance of wearing face masks, practising physical distancing and washing hands frequently.
The campaign included support from the media, religious leaders, athletes, artists and other professionals. In the month since the start of the campaign, WHO’s Representative in Iraq registered a significant decrease in the daily number of recorded cases from the most affected districts.
The campaign was made possible by financial support from the European Union Civil Protection and Humanitarian Aid (ECHO) and the Government of Kuwait.
It will be extended to five other cities in Iraq and will target areas reporting a high number of cases.