JEDDAH, 27 May 2005 — Officials from the Makkah Region Health Affairs opened here the first model health care center in the region. Located behind the Intercontinental Hotel in the Al-Hamra district, the center features a new concept in health care.
“The center offers treatment, rehabilitation and development services,” said Dr. Khalid Bawakid, the director of the new center.
The center has two sections, the health care and continued medical training and education facilities. The health care facility operates on a fully computerized system of patient data entry, has clinics for general practitioners, a family doctor, a complete lab, X-ray and ultrasound machines. The center also offers all required medical immunizations and preventive care.
“The idea is to provide comprehensive basic health care services to relieve the loads from hospitals. Unlike other buildings used as health centers which are rented and then refurbished to suit the purpose of a health care center, this center was designed and built specifically as a health care center,” said Dr. Bawakid.
The continued medical training and education facility will be for doctors, nurses, technicians and administrators to receive further basic health care training and education to develop their skills and knowledge.
It has a lecture hall and four training labs: Computer labs, CPR labs, clinical skills, and maternity and infant care. Four other model health care centers are under construction and will ready to operate within months.
