2016: Registry visit and Cancer Registry Assessment Workshop in Iraq

Dr Ariana Znaor (IARC) and Dr Sultan Eser (PI of the Izmir Hub) conducted a cancer registry assessment workshop initiated by WHO-EMRO in Erbil, Iraq, 19-21 April 2016. In addition to facilitators from the WHO Country Office, there were 18 participants from the central registry office at the Ministry of Health and the three major regions. Each of the participating regions provided a brief presentation on their cancer registry, including opportunities and challenges. During the workshop, cancer registration procedures were discussed in detail, after which the participants drafted recommendations on how to improve cancer registration in their regions and in Iraq. A part of the workday on 21 April was dedicated to a visit of the cancer registry unit in the Nanakali Oncology Hospital in Erbil. Recommendations to improve cancer registration in Iraq were provided.