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The city of Sulaymaniyah, located in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq, faces growing healthcare challenges due to security threats, natural disasters, and an increasing population of displaced individuals. However, the inadequate emergency response system and lack of basic life-saving skills among residents are leading to preventable deaths before patients reach medical care.
In collaboration with emergency medicine physicians from Shar Hospital, Integral Global will train a cohort of 20 residents of the Kurdsat neighbourhood as community-based first responders. They will learn essential techniques such as CPR, AED use, bleeding control, wound care, and shock management. Shar Hospital will establish a WhatsApp group that will connect Kurdsat residents with the trained responders and Shar Hospital’s emergency services to improve coordination and response times.
Over nine months, Integral Global and Shar Hospital will also run an awareness campaign to engage the community and foster a culture of safety and preparedness. This pilot program will serve as a model for expanding emergency response capabilities to other high-need neighbourhoods in the future. By equipping local residents with life-saving skills, this initiative empowers residents of the Kurdsat neighbourhood to take an active role in their own safety and emergency preparedness.
Establishing a Community-Based Emergency Response System in Sulaymaniyah, Iraq
Integral Global’s female vaccinators who support Pakistan’s National Stop Transmission of Polio (NSTOP) Programme are often in the field for an entire day without access to facilities such as washrooms and breakrooms that are designed with female-specific needs in mind. As a result, these vital teams report a variety of health concerns, including dehydration, urinary tract infections (UTIs), general discomfort, and a negative influence on mental health and working ability. Cultural norms further limit their ability to relax in shared office spaces, making it difficult to sustain a female workforce in immunization efforts.
To support women in the field, Integral Global would like to construct private washrooms and break rooms at 10 sites in target immunization areas with high numbers of female workers but inadequate facilities. A dedicated female attendant will be hired at each location to ensure maintenance and cleanliness. These permanent, flood-resistant facilities will create a safer, more accommodating work environment, ensuring that women’s vital role in Pakistan’s immunization efforts is maintained.
Building Private Washrooms and Breakrooms for Female Frontline Vaccinators in Pakistan
Integral Global is working to improve the health and well-being of workers in ready-made garment (RMG) factories in Bangladesh, where access to healthcare, health knowledge, and employer support remains limited. In collaboration with AYAT Education, Integral Global supports local trade unions in promoting health initiatives in the RMG sector through the Fabric of Health program. As the program enters its sixth year, Integral Global and local partners hope to complement existing efforts through two additional initiatives:
Expanding care: Through Worker Wellness Days, Integral Global offers primary care and basic women’s health consultations, health screenings, and specialist referrals. However, preliminary needs assessments have shown that additional specialized services, including vision testing, HPV vaccination, mental health counseling, and the provision of basic medication, are needed.
Enhancing health education: Integral Global’s RMG Factory Worker Health & Wellness Toolkit presents accessible resources on topics including seasonal health concerns, handwashing, pain, and nutrition. To enhance user experience and functionality, there is a desire to develop a mobile application through which users can view the Toolkit’s content offline, utilize text-to-speech and voice-to-text capabilities, and create individual profiles with tailored recommendations and progress tracking.
By equipping RMG workers with essential health resources, this initiative fosters a culture where worker well-being is prioritized, leading to healthier employees and a more productive industry.
Expanding Access to Health Services and Education in Bangladesh’s Ready-Made Garment (RMG) Factories
Pakistan is among the top 10 countries with limited access to safe water and hygiene infrastructure, leading to widespread waterborne diseases like typhoid, cholera, and dysentery. Many communities lack awareness of proper WASH practices, further exacerbating these public health risks. Integral Global is currently working to improve water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) education for school-aged children living in urban slums across Islamabad.
Rather than focusing solely on infrastructure, Integral Global is empowering children to become advocates for safe hygiene. Through engaging educational programs, students learn essential skills such as handwashing, personal hygiene, and safe water practices. These lessons extend beyond the classroom, influencing families and communities to adopt healthier habits.
IGH has successfully implemented WASH education campaigns in 31 schools and aims to expand to at least 20 more government schools across Islamabad. This initiative is carried out in collaboration with Pakistan’s Ministry of National Health Services Regulations and Coordination (MoNHSRC) and the WHO’s Expanded Programme on Immunization (EPI), ensuring strong local engagement and long-term sustainability. By equipping children with vital hygiene knowledge, this project strengthens disease prevention efforts and fosters lasting health improvements within Islamabad’s communities.
Promoting Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene (WASH) among Underserved Communities in Islamabad, Pakistan