JEDDAH, 17 January 2007 — After seven years, a much-needed primary health care clinic built by a philanthropist in a village on the outskirts of Makkah is set to open.
The philanthropist has urged Makkah Health Affairs Department to fulfill its obligations to operate the health clinic. This was agreed to by the female philanthropist and the department when she first proposed buying the land and building the clinic at Abu Shuaib in Wadi Fatima district about 65 km from Makkah.
The officials, however, delayed constantly, saying they lacked both the ability and the budget to operate the clinic. The woman could have easily operated it as a private clinic and made profits but she wanted to serve the people of the poor area which had no form of health services or health care. She talked about the needs of the villages in the press, got columnists to write about the unopened clinic and even contacted the minister of health herself.
Finally, a few weeks ago, Health Minister Dr. Hamad Al-Manie formed a committee from Makkah Health Affairs to accept the two-story building and establish it as a primary health care center in the village of Abu Shuaib. The committee has set a date four months from now for the center to begin operating; there is, however, some maintenance work which has to be carried out.
“Seven years ago, a group of donors and I agreed to buy the land and build the clinic based on health affairs specifications and then offer it to the Health Affairs Department to operate. We saw how much the center was needed since there was only one primary health care center in the capital of the district plus three other small public clinics serving over 40 villages in the district,” the philanthropist explained to Arab News.
The villages have been expanding and their populations increasing; sadly health services have not kept up with demand. For most of the villagers, especially women, it is difficult to access the existing clinics because they do not have cars; using a taxi is virtually impossible and calling an ambulance is simply not an option in most cases.
The Health Affairs Department approved the project and licensed the building which is a two-story structure having 17 rooms, but the department has not been able to operate it. Following the minister’s intervention and directions, the Health Affairs Department has received approval for 30 health care professionals — doctors, nurses, technicians and a pharmacist — as well as a budget allocation.
“I want to thank all who have been attentive to this issue, especially the minister and the officials at Health Affairs Department,” said the philanthropist.
After seven years of standing idle, the building needs some repairs which are being taken care of before it opens for business. “I have contacted some specialists, such as pediatricians and gynecologists, from Makkah and Jeddah who said they were willing to volunteer at the center twice a month. The Health Affairs Department has approved so long as we inform them before hand and allocate a special room for the visiting doctors,” she said. Other people have offered to supply the center’s pharmacy with needed medications.
