19 March 2025, Baghdad, Iraq – The Ministry of Health (MoH), in collaboration with the Ministry of Education (MoE), has commenced fieldwork for the Global School-Based Student Health Survey (GSHS).
The standardized survey, developed by the World Health Organization (WHO) in partnership with the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, collects data on adolescent health and well-being to provide a foundation for evidence-based policy development and targeted interventions. The survey will be conducted in selected schools across Iraq’s governorates, with trained data collectors engaging students in a structured and confidential manner.
Highlighting the commitment of stakeholders to ensuring the successful execution of GSHS, technical officers from WHO, UNICEF, MoH and the Baghdad Al-Karkh Health and Education Directorates carried out a field visit to oversee the initial phase of GSHS implementation.
WHO is committed to supporting the initiative, which focuses on assessing key health behaviours and risk factors among school-aged children and adolescents and emphasizes the importance of a multisectoral approach to addressing adolescent health challenges. By working together, stakeholders can equip young people in Iraq with the knowledge, resources and support to lead healthier lives.
Fieldwork will continue over the coming weeks and the findings are expected to contribute to Iraq’s national strategies on adolescent health and education. MoH and MoE, in collaboration with WHO, the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) and the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), will ensure the smooth implementation of the Survey and the accuracy of the data collected.
