21 December 2023, Erbil, Iraq – “Oxygen is a life-saving essential medicine with no substitute,” said Dr Wael Hatahit, Acting WHO Representative in Iraq, explaining the drive behind a recent 3-day workshop on medical oxygen scale-up.

“This profound view stems from the recognition that securing affordable and sustainable access to oxygen is paramount for health facilities, particularly in light of the challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic,” he added, underlining the event’s significance to Iraq’s health system.