Erbil, 18 December 2022 – The World Health Organization (WHO) in Iraq, in collaboration with the Ministry of Health of the Kurdistan region of Iraq, has just completed the renovation and expansion of a neonatal intensive care unit in the maternity teaching hospital in Erbil. The unit can now deliver advanced lifesaving services for newborns of refugees, internally displaced populations (IDPs), and the Erbil hosting community of approximately 1.6 million people. The unit has been established on an additional space of 377 square metres to accommodate 92 newborns in fully equipped incubators with an up-to-date monitoring system installed according to international standards. Medical air and oxygen, a new 3-bed isolation room, a laboratory and milk preparation areas have also been provided. “The best gift we could give to our children is a healthy new start in life, and this is what we are doing in this unit, to provide intensive neonatal care to premature needy newborns,” said Dr Ahmed Zouiten WHO Representative in Iraq. “Our vision for a solid and compatible health care system in Iraq starts here in maternity and neonatal health care facilities in which sustainable health projects are recognized as the ultimate solutions to the growing health needs of the Iraqi people and a step towards achieving universal health coverage,” he added.