A fresh flow of water and health services are finally reaching the most neglected in Iraq—the Marsh Arabs. Surviving decades of targeted oppression and attempts by the previous regime to encroach on their way of life, the Marsh Arabs are still proud and hopeful about a future without fear where their children have an opportunity to flourish and their ancient connection to the land will bring bountiful fishing, agriculture, and self-sustenance.
The International Medical Corps Amarah team is carrying out massive water and sanitation projects—constructing new water compact units and rehabilitating water stations in 21 marsh villages—including Al Khumos, Al Rafei, AL Diben, Al Moutbage, Adil Jassim, Umm Sha, Al Tommama, and Abu Khasaf.
This will bring potable water to over 45,000 Marsh Arabs whose only available drinking water has been polluted canals and rivers with a constant flow of raw sewage – a source they share with grazing sheep and water buffalo. The precious few resources are already thinly stretched, as over 3,000 returnees from Iran have made their way home, and thousands more are expected.
Both bloody and watery diarrhea is rampant throughout the populace, as over 70 percent of patients admitted to the pediatrics ward of the Al-Amarah General hospital (AGH) come from the marsh villages, according to Dr. Iman al-Saady, AGH physician.
One woman expressed her concerns for the dangers the children of the marshes face, witnessing first hand the struggles of fearful mothers struggling to maintain the health of their babies in such a harsh environment. “I am the only midwife for al Dibin village…I help bring the children into our world and I want to see that they have a happier and healthier life, they deserve that chance,” Howeesi stressed. The 45-year-old woman has a face ravaged by years of difficult economic and social circumstances, as well as personal and professional stress. Forced into migration seven years ago by Saddam while she was pregnant, she lost her baby. As a village midwife, Howeesi has recently returned to al Diban and once again resumed her role within the community and is well respected and loved among the men, women and children in the village.
Coupled with the construction and rehabilitation of water stations, International Medical Corps is spear heading a community outreach clinic and education program into the marshes, where community members actively participate in improving the health of the entire community. Visiting 11 marsh villages six days a week, the community outreach clinic is led by one doctor, two nurses, and one pharmacist. Clinic staff members treat over 700 patients a week, while the clinic receives dozens of concerned mothers clutching their babies, children, and the elderly.
There has been a critical need for immediate health relief as the marsh villages were denied health services for over 12 years—only four sub primary health care units existed that were barely equipped to handle the influx of sick patients due to the poor water quality. Post war looting put an end to even those most basic of services, leaving the Marsh Arabs to travel over 30 km. to the nearest hospital—Al Kahala General Hospital—quite a distance for villages that often share one truck per village with populations ranging from 1,000 to 5,000.
International Medical Corps is also training over 35 community educators in water and sanitation projects, focusing on personal hygiene, food and water sanitation, basic nutrition, and water borne disease control. “The community knew their children were sick, but they did not know how to prevent this from happening,” explained International Medical Corps nurse and community education trainer Sally Field.
The aim of this training initiative is to teach the community how to fully utilize their access to clean water, changing daily habits while improving their basic health preservation and skills.
“Its all tied together—the poor water quality, illness, malnutrition—this is an integrated effort that will address all of these areas and improve the health of these communities,” Sally concluded.
International Medical Corps water and sanitation construction will be completed by mid December 2003, thus ensuring that fresh water will once again be flowing, and the Marsh Arabs themselves are taking the health of the community into their own hands.