Photo Album
REO Al-Hillah
Babil PRT Mission
Established November 21, 2005, the Babil Provincial Reconstruction Team (PRT), focuses and coordinates Coalition reconstruction and capacity-building efforts to expand the provincial government's abilities to meet the needs of its people. The PRT is made up of representatives from the State Department, Coalition military forces, ITAO (Iraq Transition Assistance Office), the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), Research Triangle Institute (RTI) and other USAID contractors, the Department of Justice, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and military Civil Affairs personnel, all working to coach, teach and mentor Iraqi counterparts.
Education Projects
School rehabilitation is paramount to the PRT's mission. Babil PRT continues to work with the DG of Education to rehabilitate schools within Babil Province. In October 2007, PRT members participated in the school re-opening of al-Iskarat elementary school in downtown al-Hillah. Quick Reaction Funds (QRF) and Commander's Emergency Response Funds (CERP) were combined to improve the school tenfold. The students no longer need to wade through feet of mud as the road to the school's entrance was paved. Additionally, the PRT provided new desks, improved lighting, refurbished lavatories, fresh paint and a new cortyard with basketball hoops for the childrens' use.
Health Projects
PRT Babil's quest for improved health care is neverending. The PRT purchased an ekocardiograph machine for use at the Children's and Maternity Hospital in al-Hillah. It is estimated that the machine will contribute greatly to the health and welfare of the hundreds of babies born in the province each day. Additionally, the PRT meets monthly with the U.S. Army Special Forces unit in al-Hillah to screen and treat Babil province residents on a walk-in basis. There will be another public screening in December. These public sessions allow for individuals to get basic care and diagnosis so that they can be directed to the necessary specialists throughout the province.
Infrastructure Projects
Babil province is in desparate need of basic infrastructure and essential services. In December 2007, the PRT committed funds to purchase an electircal transformer recoiling machine. This device will save the province hundreds of thousands of dollars (and gainfully employ a plethora of citizens) in funds that would otherwise have to be spent on new transformers. Instead of spending USD10,000 on a replacement transformer for everyone blown in the province, this machine can recoil the broken transformer, effectively creating a unit as viable as a brand new one for a fraction of the cost. The PRT is also active with the PRDC and the Provincial Planning Committee; both entities committed to revitalizing the provincial infrastructure.
Civil Society Projects
Babil PRT regularly participates in discussions with local civil leaders. In addition to training judges, journalists, and lawyers, the PRT has recently held tourism, agriculture, and rule of law conferences and seminars at the Regional Embassy Office. Always seeking to better civil society and the spirit of civic pride, the PRT is constantly looking for opportunities to reinforce the call to duty and nationalist esprit de corps. One simple ongoing project is the T-Wall Beautification project. Seeing provincial infrastructure surrounded by large cement slabs - prison walls if you will - led to the PRT's decision to devote significant funds to the beautification of these monstrosities. All throughout the province, from Hamza to Jibala, the t-walls are undergoing a transformation from drab cement to mosaic pieces of art.