These medical facilities are desperately needed and will provide free medical treatment to all Iraqis. The clinics are spread out across the country.
This program is part of U.S. funded initiative to help get healthcare issues jump started at a cost of nearly $376 million to American.
Eight of the clinics have already opened and medical personnel are treating more than 250 patients per day. Another 10 clinics have opened, but medical staff recruitments and training are still underway at these facilities.
Eighty of the clinics are nearly finished at 90 percent completion.
Engineering renovations are taking place at another 20 hospitals that were already established.
The Basra Children's Hospital is the first new hospital being built in Iraq since the 1980s. The hospital is scheduled for completion in 2008.
"We are having a shortage [of hospitals in our country]. We are not fully equipped. We are in a war against terrorism, so we expect to have some shortage, but we are doing the minimum work ... for the people," stated Dr. Quraish Alkasir, who is president of the Society of Iraqi Surgeons and advisor to the deputy prime minister of Iraq.
However, Alkasir stated that the country is meeting their basic healthcare needs at this time.
Army Brig. Gen. Michael J. Walsh, commanding general of the Gulf Region, Division of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, stated, "The reconstruction efforts are a vital component to Iraq's progress. Ultimately, however, it's up to the Iraqi people to rebuild and secure their country."
