Provincial and local officials hosted a ribbon cutting ceremony July 19 to open a new primary healthcare center in Sooq-sha’lan.

Those attending included An Najaf Deputy Governor Hassan Abtan, Dr. Radhwan (the Director General for An Najaf’s Health Directorate), Dr. Enaas (the PHC’s Administrator) and Mayor Farooq. An Najaf is a province located south of Baghdad.

Abtan pointed out that, prior to the PHC’s opening, residents traveled for an hour to get medical care. “Now it’s just 5 to 10 minutes away,” he added. He praised the quality of the construction, said the Iraqi crew who built it should be proud, and also complimented the partnering effort between the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and provincial officials to ensure the project’s successful completion.

Dr. Radhwan thanked those involved in getting such a fine facility built. Dr. Enass said, “This is a great day.”

The new facility is expected to serve 200 patients a day and is the largest-type PHC being built in Iraq, 2,200 square meters. It offers basic health care, dental exam, x-ray room, laboratory for blood work, pharmacy, treatment rooms, emergency trauma services, inpatient and maternity care (pre-natal and birthing).

“The project is designed to make health care service more accessible to the people of An Najaf,” said Gulf Region South district construction representative Ken Lloyd. “This modern one-story structure is equipped with state-of-the-art medical equipment, furnishings, and consumables. It has a back-up generator, water treatment system, fire-alarm system, a telecommunications room and intercom system. It’s an important step in Najaf’s quest to improve neighborhood healthcare,” he added.

Gulf Region South district is overseeing the construction of a variety of essential service projects in Iraq’s nine southern provinces including new water and sewer treatment facilities, hospitals, road paving, courthouses, electrical distribution upgrades, and schools.

MNF-I
By Norris Jones
Gulf Region South district