The city of Rutbah resides in the middle of the rural western Al Anbar province, Iraq. The people of this city have come to love a man who has changed and influenced the health care in the city and surrounding areas.

Dr. Dhea Mijwal Shami Maadahidi, the surgeon and manager of the Rutbah general hospital, has worked tirelessly to ensure the health of others.

“I love my job because of the procedures I’m able to do to make this city a healthier place,” said Dhea, 38, from Baghdad, Iraq.

After receiving his certification in Baghdad, Dhea has spent the last six years treating patients here. Since arriving, he has helped rebuild the old hospital, which had been destroyed by previous conflicts and boosted the medical program from conducting only minor surgeries to major surgeries as well.

“We have been able to do many great things at the hospital, including (repairing) the walls, acquiring new equipment, and in the future, building housing for long-term patients,” said Dhea. “This hospital was destroyed at one point, and now it’s back and running.”

The new hospital has been open for close to a year, and Dhea operates with 24 patient rooms, two surgical theatres and 10 outpatient recovery rooms. Hundreds of patients are treated everyday in the Rutbah general hospital, and challenges are faced in regards to supplies. Although advanced medical supplies are hard to acquire, which presents a high level of stress for the staff, Dhea remains optimistic of their capabilities.

“For the supplies we possess, we make the best of it,” said Dhea said. “We still have a lot of improvement to make here to be able to perform better as a hospital. Once the situation improves, the city government will provide us with more funding for medical equipment.”

For his first five years at the hospital, Dhea was the only doctor with others occasionally coming and going to assist him. He has treated sicknesses ranging from common colds to fatal diseases without hesitation. Because of his hard work in the hospital and for the people of Rutbah, the respect for him has spread throughout the community.

“Everybody in this city loves and respects Doctor Dhea because he’s provided a lot more than just being a doctor,” said Nozar Jamil Yasseen, 32, a radiologist at the Rutbah hospital and Dhea’s assistant. “He’s had more success than any other manager in the history of (the hospital) and has established a huge influence in our city council.”

The hospital now has seven doctors, and Dhea has begun projects with 2nd Light Armored Reconnaissance Battalion, Regimental Combat Team 5, to provide medical assistance to the cities of Nukayb and Akashat. According to Dhea, these projects help benefit the people who don’t have the luxury of a doctor.

“It’s a great feeling to be able to go to these towns and provide health assistance that is hard to come by for those people,” said Dhea. “I always like to do good things for people and increase their hope in my work.”

Although he plans to leave Rutbah to practice his specialty, abdominal surgery, in Baghdad, the people of the city have been more to Dhea than just patients – they’re also his family.

“I’ve had a great relationship with the city of Rutbah; they care for me more than I care for them I think sometimes,” he said. “Whenever they come to thank me, they tell me they will pray for me, and that’s all the thanks I need for my work.”

DVIDS
By Cpl. Ryan Tomlinson
Regimental Combat Team 5

In the city of Rutbah, Iraq, the supply of water is inconsistent. It can be even worse for the towns outside of Rutbah where the water supply is scarce and very expensive.

There are a few privately owned wells in the towns of Dhramma and Romalia, but many of the villagers cannot afford to buy water from them, and a water truck only comes around every couple of weeks.

“We have put together a project to build two wells for each of the towns that will supply free water,” said 2nd Lt. Dan J. Alldridge, 24, from Bloomington Ill., who is the officer-in-charge of Detachment 1, Civil Affairs Team 4, 2nd Battalion, 11th Marine Regiment, Regimental Combat Team 5. “We are also working to get the city of Rutbah a more consistent water supply.”

The Rutbah water plant draws its water from 16 different wells, but the plant is only able to run when the city power is on.

“The city will usually have power for about six to eight hours per day, and it takes about an hour just to get the water pumped from the wells to the pump house,” said Alldridge.

To help the pump house with its power problem, CA Team 4 is looking into providing a large generator so it won’t have to depend so heavily on the national power grid.

Marines with CA Team 4 also inspect the pump house and wells about once a week to ensure they are not being threatened by insurgents.

“When we go out to inspect the wells, we usually try and bring something for the families that are out there,” said Alldridge.

Soccer balls and school supplies were given to the children of the families who live out at the well sites during the Marines most recent visit.

“We are the only people these children see other than their families,” said Alldridge. “They don’t go to school, so we give them pens and notebooks so they can have things to learn to read and write with,”

The city of Rutbah is a sheep farming community and its economy is largely dependant on the people who live in the surrounding towns. Assisting towns like Dhramma and Romalia in getting water is important for everyone.

“The two towns we are providing wells for are in need of a water source if they are going to continue to exist,’ said Staff Sgt. Richard R, White, 30, from Las Vegas, who is the team chief for CA Team 4.”

Each town is receiving two wells to help alleviate the expenses of bringing in water with a truck or buying it from the privately owned wells. By helping the infrastructure of the smaller towns, the city of Rutbah’s economy will also stabilize a bit.

“Hopefully we can get everything from clinics and schools out here, but the wells are the first step,” said White. “Once these wells are finished, they will provide free water for the whole town”

The importance of the wells has been reflected in the speed of their construction.

“We gave the contractor three months to finish the job, and we are now projecting he will be finished in two,” said Alldridge.

The wells and pump house generator couldn’t come soon enough for people in and around the city of Rutbah. They may not be able to change the intensity of the desert heat, but thanks to CA Team 4, they will have water.

DVIDS
By Lance Cpl. Paul M. Torres
Regimental Combat Team 5