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May 09, 2003

INTERNATIONAL IMMUNIZATION NEWS

“Iraq's Health System Near Collapse”

Washington Post (www.washingtonpost.com) (05/09/03) P. A22

Officials from the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) and the U.S. health department said Thursday that Iraq's health system is nearing collapse and that some medicines are in short supply.  USAID's Andrew Clements noted that although there has not yet been a major outbreak of communicable diseases, “no one is taking consolation in this at the moment because the potential does exist since the public health system and the immunization program have been disrupted.”  The U.S. officials made their comments at a consultative conference on the health system in Iraq.

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