They slammed the dismal state of the lone primary health care center in the town. The center has several buildings located on a large area, but locals are not in a position to take advantage of them as they are in a dilapidated state and are poorly maintained, Al-Madinah newspaper reported, quoting several residents.

Ayman Al-Mazmoumi, a local citizen, said the center has failed in its duty of making basic health care services available to people in the region.

“It is unfortunate that the center cannot maintain a minimum standard of health services for residents, especially emergency services. It lacks sufficient numbers of doctors and paramedical staff. The center has become a breeding ground for mosquitoes, flies and rodents due to the poor maintenance and unhygienic conditions,” he said, adding that the condition of a large number of patients had worsened after they approached the center.

Sami Auda, another citizen, said it was very difficult for people in the area to transport patients to the nearest hospital, Rabigh General Hospital, located 45 km from Mastura.

“It is a very risky and arduous journey taking the sick, especially those in a serious condition, to the hospital. Most often it refuses to admit patients who do not produce a referral note from the primary health center,” he said.

Dr. Sami Badawoud, director general of Jeddah’s health affairs department, told the newspaper that a new primary health center in Mastura is among eight health center projects whose implementation has been delayed due to problems with the contractor.

“The ministry had decided earlier to revoke the contracts awarded to the contractor. These projects would be awarded to a new contractor within the coming few days,” he said, admitting the building and medical facilities at the existing health center in Mastura were in a dismal state.

“The center has enough doctors — five in number. But the emergency department at the center is in a poor state,” he said, adding that the new health center project, which would be implemented within one year, would solve the problem.