Chargé d’Affairs meets Director General of Swedish National Board of Health and Welfare

Chargé d’Affairs, Mr. Pewan Zawitai, met with the director general of Swedish National Board of Health and Welfare, Ms. Olivia Wigzell, and experts from the Social Services Department on 25 August 2022 at the Board’s headquarter in Stockholm.

The meeting took place at the request of the Embassy with a view to discuss a wide range of issues, including the procedures of the Social Services Department with regard to childcare.

Ms. Olivia Wigzell gave a presentation on the work of the department and its cooperation with other Swedish governmental institutions with regard to childcare. Ms. Wigzell emphasized that the main goal of the department is to protect and to promote children’s well-being, stating that the department’s work is being conducted based on strict laws and legal regulations. Ms. Wigzell indicated that the department has recently started taking awareness measures such us translating laws into several languages, providing training programs, as well as intensifying dialogue with communities, activists and parents aiming at dissemination of information and enhancing confidence in the social system.

Chargé d’Affairs stated that the Embassy regularly receives complaints from parents after their children are taken by the Social Services due to several problems. Mr. Zawitai demonstrated his readiness and willingness to cooperate with the board in order to enhance the understanding among all stakeholders. Mr. Zawitai also emphasized the importance of preventive measures and continued communication with the Iraqi community.

The last part of the meeting was devoted to discussions on health cooperation between the Iraqi Ministry of Health and its Swedish counterpart, and the revitalization of the memorandum of understanding on health cooperation between the two countries, which was concluded in 2013.

The two sides stressed the need for continued dialogue and cooperation between the embassy and the board.