Building Renovations Under Way
By Ross Adkins
Special to American Forces Press Service
BAGHDAD, Iraq, Sept. 28, 2004 -- There are not enough well-equipped medical
facilities to heal the injured and sick, too few schools with teachers for
children to learn, and too few buildings equipped to conduct the government's
business.
U.S. Army and Iraqi engineers are doing everything they can to remedy these
shortfalls.
"I am very happy with these starts," said Ahmed, an engineer and life-long
resident of Baghdad. "It is the first step in our country's recovery. I want
people to see what they can do. If they see and understand things are really
improving, maybe they will become involved in the next step towards economic
recovery; then maybe this craziness in our country will stop.
"Show them something new, and they will believe there is hope," he said.
Hope is being restored as more than $900 million is poured into building more
hospitals, schools and government buildings throughout Iraq. This figure
represents the building or renovating of 150 primary health-care centers; 19
hospitals, including a children's hospital in Basrah; 1,200 schools, including
16 new, contemporary secondary schools; and five major Iraqi ministry buildings
that will serve as the nerve center for the country's economic and political
recovery.
The nearly $1 billion is being provided by a number of sources including U.S.
supplemental funds, Iraqi ministries and nongovernmental organizations. This is
just one of several similar programs for improving the Iraqi economy.
Work is slated to begin Oct. 17 on the primary health-care centers; more than
30 will be under construction by Nov. 14. Another 30 are forecasted to start by
Dec 12, and each is expected to take nearly nine months to complete.
"The minister of health has set a goal of improving available health care to
Iraqi citizens," Ahmed said. "His goal is to distribute facilities throughout
Iraq according to the needs of the people."
That goal equates to establishing outpatient clinics to help relieve congestion
at the country's already-busy full-service hospitals. Some of the new clinics
will have X-ray facilities, laboratories and teaching capabilities.
The most tangible evidence for the Iraqi people, Ahmed said, is seeing the
schools open -- giving children a place to learn and providing proof that
things can and are happening. Already many have been repaired and will open for
the school year next month.
The Ministries of Environment, Education and Higher Learning, Trade, Industry
and Minerals are in line for the renovations. Upgrades will improve plumbing,
wiring, air conditioning, communications and phone lines. They will also
include painting and other improvements, readying the buildings for the
ministries to move their furniture in and begin operations.
The Independent Election Commission building renovation was recently completed,
paving the way for the Iraqi elections in January.
(Ross Adkins is assigned to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Gulf Region
Division.)
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