At a ceremony held at the headquarters of the Barzani Charity Foundation in Erbil, the project to fund the procurement of a mammography machine for the Breast Disease Detection and Treatment Center in Erbil was officially announced.
The ceremony was attended by the President of the Barzani Charity Foundation, Mr. Musa Ahmed; the Deputy Ambassador of Japan to Iraq, Mr. Hiroshi Honjo; the Consul of Japan in the Kurdistan Region, Mr. Hitoshi Ishizuka; the Director General of Health in Erbil, Dr. Dlovan Muhammad; the Director of the Breast Disease Detection and Treatment Center in Erbil, Dr. Suzan Hoshyar; the representative of the Kurdistan Regional Government’s Department of Foreign Relations, Ms. Suham Jabali Mamand; as well as a number of physicians, civil society activists, and media representatives.
On Wednesday, 14 January 2025, during a ceremony held at the headquarters of the Barzani Charity Foundation in Erbil, the project to fund the mammography machine for the Breast Disease Detection and Treatment Center in Erbil was formally announced.
At the beginning of the ceremony, Dr. Abbas Azad, Director of the Health Unit at the Barzani Charity Foundation, stated that cancer remains one of the leading causes of death worldwide, with more than 19 million new cases recorded annually. He explained that breast cancer is the most common type of cancer among women globally, and that early detection through effective screening plays a crucial role in treatment, reducing mortality rates, and improving the quality of life of patients.
He added: “In Iraq and the Kurdistan Region, breast cancer cases are increasing rapidly and are often detected at advanced stages. This is due to limited access to screening equipment and a lack of public awareness.”
He further noted that the project to provide a mammography machine to the Breast Disease Detection and Treatment Center in Erbil, along with similar initiatives, aims to change this reality. By supplying mammography equipment and increasing the number of screening units in Erbil, doctors will gain greater capacity and clarity to diagnose breast cancer at earlier stages, ultimately saving the lives of thousands.
At the conclusion of his remarks, he expressed his gratitude to the Government of Japan and its embassy in Iraq for their generous donation, describing it as a clear example of humanitarian cooperation. He emphasized that such support has a significant impact on improving public health in the Kurdistan Region.
Subsequently, Mr. Hiroshi Honjo, Deputy Ambassador of Japan to Iraq, delivered a speech in which he welcomed the attendees and expressed his pleasure at participating in the ceremony.
He stated that this was his first visit to Erbil and remarked:
“Today, I was truly impressed by the economic activity, peaceful life, stability, and security of the people of Erbil, which is one of the most developed cities in Iraq.”
He also highlighted that Japan has supported Erbil in the post-conflict period and during its development phase, particularly in infrastructure projects such as electricity networks and drinking water systems, all funded through Japanese yen loans (JICA). He added that the Erbil Development Master Plan up to the year 2050 has been prepared in cooperation with JICA and the Kurdistan Regional Government.
He further noted that the Japanese organization IVY has worked on building schools and designing education programs based on the Japanese educational model in the Kurdistan Region. Japan has also provided humanitarian assistance to address displacement issues in the region, particularly supporting the reconstruction of Sinjar, which is one of the most important areas for war-affected displaced populations.
In the final part of his speech, the Deputy Ambassador addressed the health sector, stating:
“The Breast Cancer Center is one of the most important hospitals, as it is the only public hospital specialized in breast cancer and serves more than three million women across the Kurdistan Region. The center has a highly skilled and competent medical staff, but its diagnostic capacity is limited due to the lack of necessary equipment and resources.”
He continued: “Today, it is a great honor for me, on behalf of the Embassy and Government of Japan, to sign the partnership agreement for our new project, which aims to provide a mammography machine to the Breast Cancer Center in Erbil Governorate. I hope this project will meet the center’s most urgent needs.”
He concluded by saying: “Once again, I extend my sincere thanks and appreciation to everyone who contributed to this project, and I hope this opportunity will further strengthen our mutual cooperation.”
Following this, Mr. Musa Ahmed, President of the Barzani Charity Foundation, delivered a speech in which he welcomed the participants and highlighted key issues essential for society. He emphasized the Foundation’s continuous efforts to create positive change through its projects.
He noted that the mammography machine is extremely important for the Kurdistan Region in general, and Erbil in particular. He congratulated all relevant parties on securing this equipment and stressed that both local residents and refugees in the Kurdistan Region will benefit from it.
In another part of his speech, he expressed his appreciation to the Ministry of Health of the Kurdistan Regional Government for providing healthcare services without discrimination to local residents, refugees, and displaced persons. Regarding Japan’s support, he stated:
“It is only right to extend our deepest gratitude to the Government of Japan, which has stood by us through difficult times supporting the people of Kurdistan as well as refugees and displaced persons and has implemented important reconstruction projects, particularly in cooperation with the Ministry of Municipalities, which deserves special recognition.”
He further emphasized that Japan has a very successful development experience, and that the Kurdistan Region should benefit from this expertise, especially as the region is currently in a reconstruction phase. He expressed his hope for greater coordination and continued support from the Government of Japan for the Barzani Charity Foundation and its humanitarian activities. He also noted that a large number of refugees and displaced persons still reside in the Kurdistan Region, and with proper training, they can return to their areas with enhanced skills and experience.
He added:“This is not the first project we have implemented with Japan. We have carried out other projects together, and we hope this coordination and partnership will continue.”
Following the President’s speech, an agreement was signed by Mr. Karzan Nuri, member of the Executive Board of the Barzani Charity Foundation, and Mr. Hiroshi Honjo, Deputy Ambassador of Japan to Iraq, to fund the procurement of a mammography machine for the Breast Disease Detection and Treatment Center in Erbil. According to the agreement, an amount of USD 90,000 will be allocated for the purchase of the machine.
In the final part of the ceremony, Dr. Dlovan Muhammad, Director General of Health in Erbil, welcomed the attendees and, on behalf of the Erbil Directorate General of Health, expressed his gratitude to the Government of Japan and the Barzani Charity Foundation. He stated:
“The Government of Japan and the Barzani Charity Foundation have jointly supported several health sector projects and have continuously worked alongside the Ministry of Health of the Kurdistan Regional Government to enable us to provide better healthcare services to our valued citizens.”
He also noted that the mammography machine is an advanced diagnostic device that can easily detect breast cancer, significantly improving healthcare services, particularly for women. He explained that the Erbil Directorate General of Health, in cooperation with the Cancer Support Fund, has been conducting early screening programs for breast cancer to ensure patients receive timely treatment.
He further stated that the Breast Disease Detection and Treatment Center in Erbil has been operational since 2004 and employs several specialized experts in breast disease diagnosis, treatment, and surgery. In 2025 alone, more than 12,000 individuals underwent screening at the center.
