UNICEF and Ministry of Health Launch Digital Civil Registration and Vital Statistics (CRVS) for Birth Registration in Iraq

Baghdad, Iraq - July 4, 2024 - Today, Iraq takes a major step towards enhancing its health infrastructure with the official launch of the Digital Civil Registration and Vital Statistics (CRVS) for Birth Registration. Spearheaded by the Ministry of Health in collaboration with UNICEF, this initiative marks a transformative shift from traditional paper-based systems to a robust digital platform.

“The digital CRVS system aims to ensure universal birth registration and improve service delivery across Iraq's diverse regions,” said Dr. Salih Mahdi al-Hasnawi, Iraqi Minister of Health. By digitizing birth registration, the initiative seeks to streamline processes, enhance accuracy, and ensure accessibility of vital data essential for effective planning and service delivery in health, education, and social protection sectors.

"This launch represents a significant milestone in Iraq's journey towards digital health transformation," said Sandra Lattouf, UNICEF Representative in Iraq. "By ensuring every child's right to legal identity from birth, we are not only advancing children's rights but also setting the stage for a more inclusive and efficient service delivery system."

UNICEF has played a pivotal role in supporting the Ministry of Health over the past 15 months. Through capacity building and technical assistance, UNICEF has empowered health officials to successfully pilot and implement the digital CRVS platform in 12 birth registration sites across Baghdad and the Kurdistan Region. This successful pilot phase underscores the readiness and effectiveness of the system for nationwide rollout.

Collaboration with the World Health Organization (WHO), alongside generous funding from the Government of Germany (KfW), has been instrumental in supporting Iraq's broader digital health transformation agenda.
The digital CRVS for birth registration is poised to revolutionize service delivery in Iraq, ensuring timely and accurate data access for informed decision-making and improved health outcomes. Today's launch event at the Ministry of Health in Baghdad marks a significant stride towards building a more inclusive and efficient health system in Iraq, ultimately benefiting every child and family across the nation.
“This initiative not only strengthens our commitment to children's rights, but also sets a precedent for leveraging technology to achieve sustainable development goals, especially Sustainable Development Goal 3,” added Ms. Lattouf.