The Ruzh Hallat Primary Health Care Center will provide medical services for 30,000 residents of the Humer Kwer quarter of Sulaymaniyah province. USACE photo by Mike Scheck.

The $540,000 construction project was managed by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) in Iraq. The U.S. Economic Support Fund provided funding for the project, and the USACE’s Sulaymaniyah Resident Office was the on-site construction manager.

Dr. Ousman Younes, the Kurdistan Regional Government minister of health, presided over a ribbon-cutting ceremony in Humer Kwer recently, marking the completion of the 650-square-meter health center.

Other dignitaries at the ceremony included Lucy Tamlyn, team leader of the U.S. Regional Reconstruction Team Kurdistan region and Col. Margaret Burcham, commander of the Gulf Region North District.

“Most of the Humer Kwer residents currently have to travel an indirect route of approximately seven kilometers to access the nearest existing Primary Healthcare Center,” said Tamlyn. “This project is a great example of the partnership between the United States and the Kurdish region. We look forward to continuing that partnership.”

During her remarks, Burcham praised the project team for working hard to deliver the healthcare center.

"The Corps of Engineers is very pleased to coordinate a partnership to provide such a high-quality medical clinic that will last for many years,” said Burcham. “This is real value for the money...a stunning facility.”

Amenities at the new health center include three doctors’ offices, two patient rooms, an X-ray room, laboratory, administrative offices and a pharmacy. The health center is designed to accommodate wheelchair-bound patients, and includes handicap ramps and bathrooms.

The Subhi Haidar Mahmood Company served at the general contractor for the health center project. The project also provided jobs to people in the local area, employing 16 Iraqi engineers and workers during construction.

The United States has allocated more than $40 million for the health sector in the Kurdish region, of which $10 million is earmarked for Sulaymaniyah province.

As Iraq strives to build a secure, stable and self-governing nation, the USACE has completed hundreds of projects in the building, health and education sector. Since 2004, USACE has constructed or renovated 134 Primary Healthcare Centers throughout Iraq.