MEDICAL PROBLEMS IN IRAQ

File: 951016_0me018_91.txt
Page: 91
Total Pages: 1
Subject: MEDICAL PROBLEMS IN IRAQ


Filename:0me018.91


MEDICAL PROBLEMS IN IRAQ
March 15, 1991

KEY JUDGMENTS

    HEALTH PROBLEMS CURRENTLY FACING IRAQ ARE PRIMARILY PUBLIC 
HEALTH IN NATURE; ATTRIBUTABLE TO THE BREAKDOWN OF NORMAL 
PREVENTIVE MEDICINE, WASTE DISPOSAL, WATER PURIFICATION AND 
DISTRIBUTION, ELECTRICITY, AND TRANSPORTATION (IMPEDING HEALTHCARE 
ACCESS). THERE ARE INDICATIONS THAT THE BAGHDAD GOVERNMENT IS 
FOCUSING ITS EFFORTS RESTORING THESE SERVICES, AS EXAMPLED BY A 
RECENT REPORT OF AN ICRC DELIVERY TO BAGHDAD OF WATER PURIFICATION 
AND SEWAGE EQUIPMENT.

[      (b)(1) sec 1.3(a)(4)    ]







DISEASE OCCURRENCE IN BAGHDAD

(U) OPEN SOURCE NEWS RELEASES, CITING INTERNATIONAL AND IRAQI 
HEALTH OFFICIALS, INDICATE THAT COMMUNICABLE DISEASES IN BAGHDAD 
ARE MORE WIDESPREAD THAN Usually OBSERVED DURING THIS TIME OF THE 
YEAR AND ARE LINKED TO THE POOR SANITARY CONDITIONS (CONTAMINATED 
WATER SUPPLIES AND IMPROPER SEWAGE DISPOSAL) RESULTING FROM THE 
WAR. ACCORDING TO A UNITED NATIONS CHILDREN'S FUND (UNICEF)/WORLD 
HEALTH ORGANIZATION REPORT, THE QUANTITY OF POTABLE WATER IS LESS 
THAN 5 PERCENT OF THE ORIGINAL SUPPLY, THERE ARE NO OPERATIONAL 
WATER AND SEWAGE TREATMENT PLANTS, AND THE REPORTED INCIDENCE OF 
DIARRHEA IS FOUR TIMES ABOVE NORMAL LEVELS. ADDITIONALLY, 
RESPIRATORY INFECTIONS ARE ON THE RISE. CHILDREN PARTICULARLY HAVE 
BEEN AFFECTED BY THESE DISEASES. INCREASED INCIDENCE OF TYPHOID 
AND CHOLERA HAS BEEN REPORTED BY IRAQI RED CRESCENT OFFICIALS, BUT 
THE SPREAD OF THESE DISEASES HAS NOT BEEN CONFIRMED BY OTHER 
SOURCES.

(U) THE PREVALENCE OF SOME DISEASES HAS INCREASED IN BAGHDAD, BUT 
MAJOR DISEASE OUTBREAKS (INCLUDING TYPHOID, CHOLERA, AND 
MENINGITIS) HAVE NOT OCCURRED.  THERE ARE INDICATIONS THAT THE 
SITUATION IS IMPROVING AND THAT THE Population IS COPING WITH THE 
DEGRADED CONDITIONS. DAILY RADIO BROADCASTS HAVE PROVIDED 
PRECAUTIONARY MEASURES TO BE TAKEN BY CIVILIANS TO PREVENT 
DISEASES. HOWEVER, CONDITIONS IN BAGHDAD REMAIN FAVORABLE FOR 
COMMUNICABLE DISEASE OUTBREAKS; THE DELAYED RESTORATION OF PUBLIC 
HEALTH SERVICES AND APPROACHING WARMER TEMPERATURES WILL INCREASE 
THE LIKELIHOOD OF SIGNIFICANT DISEASE OUTBREAKS. ADDITIONALLY, 
CIVIL DISTURBANCES COULD FURTHER DELAY INFRASTRUCTURE REPAIRS.

    NEWS RELEASED TO WESTERN AUDIENCES FROM BAGHDAD ON SANITARY 
CONDITIONS AND DISEASE INCIDENCE IS CONSIDERED BIASED. THE IRAQI 
GOVERNMENT HAS MANDATED THE DEPARTURE OF NEWS PERSONNEL AND RELIEF 
AGENCY OBSERVERS, MAKING EVALUATION OF ACTUAL HEALTH CONDITIONS 
(DISEASES, INCIDENCE LEVELS, AND GROUPS AFFECTED) UNCLEAR.