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Daggers Aid Water Flow Into Zaidon Clinic

By Staff Sgt. Peter Ford

BAGHDAD - The local people of Zaidon were elated to see water pipes connected to the Zaidon Clinic during a ribbon cutting ceremony in the Abu Ghraib district here.

"There have been water issues at this clinic for over 20 years," said Ahmed Husain Saood, the contract manager who installed the water line. "Thanks to the Coalition forces and Dr. Mahjid Raad Fhas, this clinic will now have running water to serve the people in the community," he added.

The clinic has existed for several decades without running water. In the past, water was delivered to the clinic in large containers. Now, the clinic has a water storage tank and pipes have been connected to the main water line of Zaidon. According to Capt. Kenneth Johnson, the brigade surgeon of 2nd Brigade, 1st Infantry Division, the clinic serves a large population from Nasir Wa Salem to Zaidon.

Maj. Christopher Ott, of Fort Riley, Kan., and executive officer of the 1st Combined Arms Battalion, 63rd Armored Regiment, 2nd Brigade, 1st Infantry Division, pays close attention to conrtractor, Ahmed Husain Saood as he tells them about the water storage tanks at the Zaidon Clinic, in the Abu Ghraib district. "We understand we have a long way to go and as long as we work together, projects such as this will continue," said Ott.

"A clinic with clean running water is critical to healthcare and vital to the community," said Johnson. "During these summer months as water becomes scarce, people will be forced to use suspect water sources to stay hydrated, as they do this, water-borne diseases such as cholera becomes a problem."

Cholera is a caused by a bacterium known as vibrio cholera, which causes sleepiness, dry skin, rapid heart rate, cramps, nausea, vomiting and sometimes death. "Washing hands with clean water is important in the prevention of water-borne diseases such as Cholera," said Johnson.

Maj. Christopher Ott, of Fort Riley, Kan., and executive officer of the 1st Combined Arms Battalion, 63rd Armored Regiment, 2nd Brigade, 1st Infantry Division watches as Dr. Mahjid Raad Fhas cuts the ribbon at the Zaidon Clinic in the Abu Ghraib District. "Providing running water to the Zaidon Clinic is just a start in fixing the water and sewer problems in the rural community of the Abu Ghraib district," said Ott.

"The running of clean water to the Zaidon Clinic is one of the most significant events in expanding civil capacity because it impacts the greatest amount of people," said Johnson.

Clean water is a pre-requisite for reducing the spread of waterborne diseases and providing running water to the clinic helps provide much needed care to patients in the community.

"Providing running water to the Zaidon Clinic is just a start in fixing the water and sewer problems in the rural community of the Abu Ghraib district," said Maj. Christopher Ott, of Fort Riley Kan., and executive officer of the 1st Combined Arms Battalion, 63rd Armored Regiment, 2nd Brigade, 1st Infantry Division. "We understand we have a long way to go and as long as we work together projects such as this will continue."

Capt. Kenneth Johnson, from Fort Riley, Kan., the brigade surgeon of 2nd Brigade, 1st Infantry Division, and an interpreter listens intently to contractor, Ahmed Husain Saood, as he explains the procedures taken to have running water flow to the faucets of the Zaidon Clinic in the district of Abu Ghraib. Saood said he had to connect water pipes from the Zaidon water line four kilometers away.

The Iraqi Security Forces taking the lead in providing security for the country allows the Coalition forces the opportunity to aid in more humanitarian-type projects like running water lines to clinics and aiding the community.