The Lutifiyah Medical clinic received two ambulances April 26 through the efforts of coalition forces.

Before this, the clinic had relied on Iraqi Army forces to provide transportation for critically ill or wounded persons.

“We will still provide security for the ambulance movement,” said 1st Lt. Mohammed Mousa, a doctor with 1st Battalion, 25th Brigade, 6th Iraqi Army Division. “We know the people need emergency medical care on a regular basis and we are going to make sure the people who can give that care get to the people who need it.”

The nahia council in Lutifiyah, 36 kilometers south of Baghdad, brought the need to the attention of Coalition forces, who facilitated delivery of the ambulances.

“This will increase the capacity and ability of the health clinic to reach a more widespread area and be able to bring care to people in need,” said Capt. Mike Fisher, commander of Battery B, 3rd Battalion, 320th Field Artillery, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault).

Yaseem Mustafa, chairman of the Lutifiyah Nahia Council, said the delivery would alleviate hardship in the community.

“No longer will people have to travel to the clinic for emergency care, it can now be brought to them,” he said.

DVIDS
By Pvt. Christopher McKenna

The Czech Republic-led PRT will reconstruct several public health facilities in Lowgar province in the East of Afghanistan. After thirty years of fighting, afghan public health facilities are in ruins. There are not enough beds for patients, medicines, water or electricity for the hospitals.

Ground breaking for the Pole Alam Comprehensive Health Clinic was celebrated on March 31st. The Health Clinic will be built inside the existing compound of the Pole Alam Hospital.

Women in burkas, the all-covering scarfs, are waiting next to the women’s part of the hospital. “We are providing vaccination for women and children today,” said Nasina, a female doctor who works in the maternity ward of the Hospital. “We had around 40 deliveries when the hospital was open. After four years we have had 500 deliveries a month. Women have to leave the hospital six hours after delivery, because we do not have enough rooms for them” Nasina said.

There are not enough beds in the other departments of the hospital either. The new comprehensive health clinic will provide 20 more beds in this centrally located district of Pole Alam.

In autumn, a new building with septic, plumbing, electrical systems and a water tank will be built inside the hospital. In addition to this new building in the provincial hospital, the PRT will also reconstruct the hospital in Mohammad Aga District.

ISAF