{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2026,8,17]],"date-time":"2026-08-17T08:25:29Z","timestamp":1786955129183,"version":"build-2736575974"},"reference-count":0,"publisher":"African Journals Online (AJOL)","issue":"2","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2026,1,1]],"date-time":"2026-01-01T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1767225600000},"content-version":"unspecified","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by-nc-nd\/4.0\/"}],"content-domain":{"domain":[],"crossmark-restriction":false},"short-container-title":["Rwanda J Med Health Sci"],"abstract":"<jats:p>Thalassemia is one of the most common hemoglobinopathies worldwide, particularly within the Middle Eastern demographics. Despite the existence of a nationwide screening program in Iraq and a decline in disease incidence, its optimal effectiveness remains uncertain, as \u03b2-thalassemia prevalence continues to rise. This paper seeks to evaluate the weaknesses of the thalassemia screening program in Iraq. It also suggests actionable strategies for policy change to further reduce disease incidence. Additionally, the discussed concepts can be applicable to other regions facing a similar burden. Factors like widespread consanguineous marriage, inadequate public knowledge, and restricted access to prenatal diagnostic services impose further burden on prevention efforts. To attain national elimination of \u03b2-thalassemia in Iraq, the Ministry of Health, in collaboration with medical organizations, must promptly address these barriers by revising policies and substantially investing in essential services. Rwanda J Med Health Sci 2026;9(2):435-439<\/jats:p>","DOI":"10.4314\/rjmhs.v9i2.14","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2026,8,17]],"date-time":"2026-08-17T07:56:08Z","timestamp":1786953368000},"page":"435-439","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":0,"title":["Thalassemia in Iraq: Time to Reform Policy"],"prefix":"10.4314","volume":"9","author":[{"family":"Halima Adill Abdulrahman","sequence":"first","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Clinical Sciences, College of Medicine, University of Zakho, Kurdistan Region of Iraq"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"family":"Ahmed A. Mosa","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Clinical Sciences, College of Medicine, University of Zakho, Kurdistan Region of Iraq"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"family":"Nawfal R Hussein","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Biomedical Sciences, College of Medicine, University of Zakho, Kurdistan Region of Iraq"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]}],"member":"2895","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2026]]},"container-title":["Rwanda Journal of Medicine and Health Sciences"],"original-title":[],"link":[{"URL":"https:\/\/www.ajol.info\/index.php\/rjmhs\/article\/download\/332506\/312503","content-type":"application\/pdf","content-version":"vor","intended-application":"text-mining"},{"URL":"https:\/\/www.ajol.info\/index.php\/rjmhs\/article\/download\/332506\/312503","content-type":"unspecified","content-version":"vor","intended-application":"similarity-checking"}],"deposited":{"date-parts":[[2026,8,17]],"date-time":"2026-08-17T07:56:09Z","timestamp":1786953369000},"score":1,"resource":{"primary":{"URL":"https:\/\/www.ajol.info\/index.php\/rjmhs\/article\/view\/332506"}},"subtitle":[],"short-title":[],"issued":{"date-parts":[[2026]]},"references-count":0,"journal-issue":{"issue":"2","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2026]]}},"URL":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.4314\/rjmhs.v9i2.14","relation":{},"ISSN":["2616-9827","2616-9819"],"issn-type":[{"value":"2616-9827","type":"electronic"},{"value":"2616-9819","type":"print"}],"subject":[],"published":{"date-parts":[[2026]]}}}