A Healing Touch

Basra, Iraq, 26 October 2023:  For five impactful years, Maha Ghazi worked as a nurse.  She is driven by her unwavering dream of providing life-saving support for those in need. In 2021, amid the challenging times of the pandemic, she joined Al-Shuaiba Health Care Center workforce, fully prepared to embrace the unpredictable journey that lay ahead.
 
“My work during the pandemic was heavy, where I had mixed emotions of joy and sorrow, hope and despair,” said Maha. Her role entailed she was entrusted with newborn healthcare, a noble duty that touched her heart deeply.

“As a nurse working on child immunization, I had to deal with newborn babies every day, “said Maha.  “They require extra care and attention.”

As she navigated the challenges of the healthcare setting, she found herself in a unique situation—pregnant and committed to her vocation, even when the conditions were far from ideal. The lack of space, absence of air conditioning, and overflowing patient numbers cast shadows on the facility's capacity to provide adequate and quality care.

With funding from the Republic of Korea, UNICEF supported the rehabilitation of Al-Shuaiba Healthcare Center.  This enables patients, especially children to access quality healthcare and contributes to achieving Sustainable Development Goal 3, which aims to ensure healthy lives and promote well-being for all.

Quality care ensured

As UNICEF's rehabilitation interventions took shape, Maha noticed a remarkable transformation in the center's environment. Maha and her co-workers are enabled to deliver quality healthcare to patients, speeding up their recovery and easing their suffering.
“The interventions not only improved the quality of healthcare, but also uplifted the spirits of the healthcare center workforce,” said Maha with a smile.   “We found a renewed sense of purpose and passion in our work, knowing that we are making a tangible difference in people's lives.”
The combined efforts of UNICEF and the Korean government are making a significant impact in improving the quality of care for people in Shuaiba. With thanks to the dedication of nurses like Maha and the support of UNICEF, lives continue to be transformed.