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State Parties Meeting / BWC9 – 13 Dec. 2013

Geneva

“Transfer of Knowledge and Experience”

Mahdi AL- Jewari

Iraqi National Monitoring Authority (INMA)

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Strengthening International Cooperation

Iraq recognizes a need to establish partnerships for joint cooperation and assistance in order to:

Implement the commitments contained in the BWC .Build capacity through international cooperation .Determine needs based on accurate gap assessments .Improve laboratory biosafety to protect workers .Institute biosecurity measures to prevent loss and theft .

9 – 13 Dec. 2013 Geneva

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Transfer of Knowledge and Experiencebetween Iraq and the United States of America

The Governments of Iraq and the United States of America have

partnered in capacity-building efforts to improve Iraq’s capability in the

fields of disease surveillance, detection, diagnosis and combating of

infectious diseases and related research.

9 – 13 Dec. 2013 Geneva

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Iraq Scientist Engagement Program (ISEP)

An Iraq specific program that engages Iraqi scientist and engineers with WMD and WMD-applicable skills to reduce the proliferation risk of expertise and materials.

OBJECTIVE: In the period 2003-2012, the program successfully engaged scientists with dual-use expertise, across all fields, to build safe scientific capacity. ISEP enabled Iraq scientist to address key environmental concerns and human/animal health issues encouraging a culture of safe and responsible science across Iraq.

9 – 13 Dec. 2013 Geneva

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Key Successes:

Iraq Science Fellowship Program – placed fellows at universities, research institutions and private companies across the United States.

Iraq Virtual Science Library – a multi-partner effort to provide free, full-text access to thousands of scientific journals as well as a large collection of on-line educational materials.

Iraq Research and Development Initiative – funded Iraq scientists to undertake projects that assist in reconstructing Iraq and to develop the science and technology fields in Iraq.

9 – 13 Dec. 2013 Geneva

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Field Epidemiology Training Program

Ministry of Health (MoH) and Ministry of Higher Education (MoHE) has partnered with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to implement an Iraq Field Epidemiology Training Program (FETP) focused on disease surveillance, outbreak response, and program evaluation through training programs in applied epidemiology.

OBJECTIVE : Improve the capacity of Iraqi medical personnel to respond to emergencies, better understand the situation of water and foodborne diseases in the country, support mental health well-being, and ensure safety during mass gatherings.

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Future Plans:Develop rapid response teams of three field epidemiologists in each of Iraq’s

18 provinces within 10 years in addition to supporting 50 individuals at the national level.

Provide additional workshops to address gaps or supplement University-provided classroom sessions .

Refine strategies for Public Health systems strengthening and workforce development .

Develop activities to improve disease detection, reporting, and response at all levels .

9 – 13 Dec. 2013 Geneva

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Biorisk Management Workshops

Series of introductory, intermediate, advanced and train-the-trainer workshops to be offered over the course of three (3) years to personnel from the Iraq National Monitoring Authority (INMA), the Ministry of Health (MoH), Ministry of Agriculture (MoA) and others as needed.

OBJECTIVE: Develop a foundation of Biorisk Management specialist across Iraq prepared to shape laboratory divisions, develop protocols, carry out efficient and accurate diagnostic procedures, and make sound decisions when handling disease outbreaks.

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Main Topics :

Biorisk Assessment, Risk Characterization, and Evaluation .Laboratory Biosafety and Biosecurity Practices .Personal Protective Equipment .Waste Management, Handling, and Decontamination .Emergency and Incident Planning and Response .

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National Biorisk Management Committee

The Government of Iraq established the National Biorisk Management Committee in August of 2012 to develop a national biosafety & biosecurity strategy. The NBMC is chaired by the Ministry of Health and is comprised of representatives from the following ministries: Agriculture, Defense, Interior, Higher Education, Finance, Planning, Industry, Prime Minister’s Council, Science & Technology, Environment, Prime Minister’s Advisory Commission, Trade, and Water Resource & Irrigation. Additional ministries participate as is necessary.

OBJECTIVE: The key objectives of the NBMC include: Drafting a National Biorisk Law to be adopted throughout Iraq, develop a nationally recognized Especially Dangerous Pathogens List . Protection of workers, community and the environment from biological agents and toxins. Develop Standard Operating Procedures. Reduce Biorisks threats by adopting international risk assessment & management practices .

9 – 13 Dec. 2013 Geneva

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Overarching Goals :

Enhance the implementation of Iraq obligations according to the Biological Weapons Convention (BWC) and United Nations Security Council Resolution (UNSCR) 1540 (2004).

Achieving to comprehensive system for Biorisk management to reduce the biorisks and contribute of strengthening national capacity building to counter biological threats .

9 – 13 Dec. 2013 Geneva

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Planned Cooperative Efforts

The following cooperative efforts between Iraq and the United States are planned during 2014-2016 to improve Iraq’s ability to detect, diagnose and report infectious disease outbreaks in accordance with the World Health Organization’s (WHO) International Health Regulations (IHR), the World Organization for Animal Health’s (OIE) and the United Nation’s Food and Agricultural Organization’s (FAO) reporting guidelines.

1.Implementation of the Electronic Integrated Disease Surveillance System (EIDSS) .2.Design and consolidate Central Public Health Laboratory (CPHL) and National Communicable Disease Control Center (NCDCC) .3.Biosafety & Biosecurity assessments and rapid upgrades of regional laboratories .4.Conduct 2nd phase of Biorisk Management Training and begin Clinician Training .5.Foster safe, secure and sustainable bioscience capacity through joint scientific collaborations .

9 – 13 Dec. 2013 Geneva

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Overarching Goals :

Implementation of a National Biorisk Mitigation Strategy .Improved Biosafety & Biosecurity within Biological Laboratories .Increased Human and Animal Health Surveillance across Iraq .Continued Biorisk Management Training and Mentorship .

9 – 13 Dec. 2013 Geneva

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Request for Future Cooperation and Assistance

In support of commitments contained in the Biological Convention, Iraq would like to request the assistance from additional state parties to strengthen international cooperation and build national capacities to address biological risks and threats in order to reduce their effects.

Iraq Need Assistance with the Following:1.Cooperation in developing legislation and guidance for biosafety and biosecurity and exchange of experiences in the field of conducting biological risk assessments.2.Assistance in developing laboratory Standard Operating Procedures (SOP’s) aligned with International Health Regulations (IHR) 2005 and best practices for biological risk management.

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3. Sponsorship of laboratory and clinician personnel to attend biosafety and biosecurity workshops designed to raise awareness and efficiency of specialists dealing with microorganisms, toxins and disease causing agents.

4. Continued support of Iraq participation at international scienceconferences and professional exchanges to promote the open sharing of knowledge, innovation, and ideas.

9 – 13 Dec. 2013 Geneva

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Aljewari.mahdi@gmail.com

Biodep@imnd.org

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A tabletop exercise (TTX) was conducted with 35 representatives from the Iraq and Kurdistan Ministries of Health (MoH) and Agriculture (MoA) representing 12 governorates across Iraq to characterize each ministry’s reaction and capabilities in the event of a human, animal, and/or zoonotic disease outbreak.

OBJECTIVE: The TTX provided an opportunity for each ministry to better understand the current capabilities in disease detection, sample collection, sample transportation, diagnosis, surveillance, control, and biosafety/biosecurity practices.

9 – 13 Dec. 2013 Geneva

Table-Top Exercise

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Main Topics

Outlined the ministry’s roles, procedures, policies, and infrastructure in handling outbreaks

Characterized each ministry’s reaction and capabilities of a potential disease outbreak

Identified control measures in the event of a human, animal, or zoonotic disease outbreak

Prioritized strengths, weaknesses, and gaps for future engagement activities

9 – 13 Dec. 2013 Geneva

Table-Top Exercise

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Laboratory Biosafety and Biosecurity Seminar

Seminar with the Ministry of Science and Technology (MoST), Ministry of Health (MoH), Ministry of Agriculture (MoA), and the Iraq National Monitoring Authority (INMA).

OBJECTIVE: Provide advanced techniques and information to develop human capacity building for fifty (50) specialists to implement biosafety and biosecurity measures, for personnel dealing with pathogen microorganisms.

Main TopicsThe BWC role to strengthening Biosafety and BiosecurityUN Security Council resolution 1540 in relation to BiosecurityDeveloping strategies to assess, control, and reduce riskPhysical security, personnel safety, decontamination, and transfer control

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Health Observer Program

Sponsorship of the Ministry of Health (MoH) to participate in the World Health Organization (WHO) sponsored Health Observer Programme in association with the London Olympic and Paralympics Games.

OBJECTIVE: Provide participants with insight into the activities associated with hosting and preparing for a significant Mass Gathering event. Lessons learned from Iraq’s first-ever participation in this event are being used to lay the foundation for improved plans and processes in hosting some of the largest mass gathering religious events held in the world.

Main TopicsSyndromic Surveillance and Alert SystemsMedical Services at Event Venues and HospitalsInfection Control and Outbreak Alert/ResponseEmergency Planning, Incident Management and Communication

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Mass Gathering Round-Table Discussion

Facilitated a round-table discussion between the World Health Organization (WHO), WHO Eastern Mediterranean Regional Office (EMRO) and 8-members of the Iraq Ministry of Health (MoH).

OBJECTIVE: Discuss the challenges and complexities of health preparedness associated with hosting a mass gathering and design appropriate solutions for enhancing core capacities under International Health Regulations to address challenges associated with mass gatherings in Iraq.

Main TopicsPublic Health ServicesEmergency Medical Services and Incident ManagementCommand, Control and CommunicationDevelopment of Recommendations to Enhance Iraq’s Capabilities

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International Conference Sponsorship

The sponsorship of Iraq participants to attend international science conferences encourages the reduction of global biological risks by promoting the open sharing of knowledge, innovation, and ideas gained through joint collaboration and research.

Recent Conference Sponsorship:MoH at Biosafety Conference in 2011MoH at American Society for Microbiology in 2012MoH at Biosafety Conference in 2012MoH and MoA at European Society for Veterinary Virology in 2012MoH at American Society for Microbiology in 2013MoH at International Congress on Pathogens at Human-Animal Interface in 2013MoH and MoA at American Biological Safety Association (ABSA) Conference in 2013MoH at American Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene in 2013

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