BAGHDAD: The Ministry of Labor and UNICEF are finalizing procedures for the launch of a conditional cash assistance project in Muthanna Governorate, aimed at improving vaccination rates among pregnant women and young children. This initiative, known as Cash Plus, seeks to encourage families receiving social assistance to adhere to vaccination schedules.

According to National Iraqi News Agency, Ahmed Al-Moussawi, head of the Social Protection Authority under the Ministry of Labor and Social Affairs, met with representatives from UNICEF to discuss the final steps before implementing the Cash Plus project. Al-Moussawi emphasized the project’s objective of promoting vaccination adherence among families covered by social assistance programs. The initiative will coordinate with local health centers to monitor and record attendance of beneficiaries at vaccination appointments. These records will be used to determine the disbursement of cash assistance along with regular social aid payments.

The meeting also covere
d the transfer of the experimental conditional assistance amount set for the pilot phase in the governorate. Moreover, discussions included the procedures for recording and disbursing payments tied to the project, alongside training for health center staff. These workers will be trained to manage and document review dates as per the vaccination schedule, ensuring the systematic implementation of the Cash Plus project.