BAGHDAD — The New Iraqi Clinic in northern Ghazaliyah, which treats nearly 300 people a day, was reopened to the public, Sept. 16. The clinic used to receive only 2 hours of power per day, but can now operate around the clock. "It's important because this system that we've installed will power this clinic continuously whether or not the national grid is working," said Maj. Andrew Attar, joint project mgt officer, 2nd HBCT.
The clinic is the 3rd and final solar-powered clinic project for the bde, which is scheduled to redeploy to Fort Riley, Kan. this month. Because the clinic is totally powered by the sun, vaccines can stay refrigerated and the a/c can maintain a cool temperature while patients are waiting to be treated. "Even if it's cloudy for the next 3 days, the system that we've emplaced here will still allow this clinic to have power 24 hours a day," Martin said.
The solar-powered clinics were so well-received by the people, that the bde placed solar-powered street lights in northwest Baghdad and Abu Ghraib to keep markets opened longer, and are working on a solar-powered courthouse in Abu Ghraib.
"The street lights we've found to be extremely effective. It keeps families and people out at night shopping, socializing and it promotes safe neighborhoods," he said. "When you have light at night the change is remarkable. People are out eating out at restaurants; they're out shopping at night; kids are out playing in the streets. It makes the streets safer."
