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Iraqi's to Receive 142 Healthcare Clinics, Says U.S. Army Corps of Engineers(Comtex Health Care Via Thomson Dialog NewsEdge) Sep 08, 2006 (U.S. Newswire via COMTEX) --BAGHDAD, Iraq, Sept. 8 /U.S. Newswire/ -?? The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers' Gulf Region Division (GRD) and the Iraq Project and Contracting Office (PCO) announced that all contract agreements have been signed with Iraqi and US firms to complete 142 primary healthcare clinics across Iraq. The total contract amount for these healthcare facilities will reach $185 million. Each clinic is expected to serve between 40,000 to 100,000 patients a year according to the Gulf Region's Facilities and Transportation Sector. The clinics have a similar, modular design that includes six examination rooms, a pharmacy, two dental examination rooms and X-ray facilities. Three months and $117 million worth of medical consumables, office equipment, furniture and other medical supplies are being made available to each clinic as they are completed and handed over to the Iraqi Ministry of Health. Three have been opened so far and more will be handed over this fall. This positive relationship between GRD, PCO and the Ministry of Health has resulted in a new way of looking at healthcare in Iraq. Before the US incursion into Iraq, many people seeking medical assistance had to travel great distances to reach one of the central hospitals. By showing the ministry of health the advantages of outpatient care through local clinics, the ministry agreed to change they way Iraqis receive treatment by establishing more local clinics. Local outpatient clinics reduce the travel time and increase the frequency of visits creating a better health environment for individuals and the communities around the clinics. Col. Andrew Knapp, Facilities and Transportation sector lead said, "We are fulfilling our commitment to deliver modern health care to the Iraqi people using Iraqi contractors. Once completed, the clinics will relieve the overburdened outpatient care currently provided by older hospitals and reduce infant mortality by at least 20 percent nationwide." These clinics are some of the last facilities to be assigned to contractors from DoD's $13 billion portion of the $18.4 billion appropriation from the US Congress entitled the Iraq Relief and Reconstruction Fund. More than 3,000 projects have been completed by GRD/PCO team with the remaining facilities expected to be completed in 2007. In addition, the GRD/PCO team has completed refurbishing and supplying 20 hospitals across Iraq. Andrew Curtin, Iraq Project and Contracting Office, assisted in compiling this report. http://www.usnewswire.com Iraq Project and Contracting Office, 703-696-1423 Copyright (C) 2006, U.S. Newswire |