SAUDI ARABIA

Ateef residents call for full-fledged emergency ward in health center

February 17, 2018

Khaled Al-Ateef



Okaz/Saudi Gazette

ATEEF — People of Ateef, which is located 100 km east of Taif, have complained that the healthcare center in the township does not have adequate facilities and manpower.

They urged the Health Affairs in Taif to open a full-fledged emergency ward at the health center to provide necessary treatment to patients as well as road accident victims.

"We have been very happy when the health center was opened in Ateef about five years ago but our happiness did not last long as we noticed that the center lacked necessary medical equipment and facilities as well as medical staff," said Mohammed Sinan while speaking to Okaz/Saudi Gazette.

At present the emergency room at the center is operating in a narrow room and it lacked essential equipment and facilities required by patients, he explained.

Sinan said the Health Affairs had promised several times to strengthen the center but the promises remained on paper. "This primary healthcare center is located along the expressway and it is the only facility to provide emergency care to accident victims in the area," he said.

The center is now unable to provide better services to patients and accident victims due to its poor facilities, he said, adding that the health center's poor condition and lack of adequate medical staff have increased the woes of patients.

"People of Ateef have been calling for the establishment of a full-fledged emergency ward at the center since its opening five years ago," Sinan said while urging the authorities to provide the health center with necessary facilities to treat patients and accident victims.

Sultan Al-Otaibi emphasized the need to expand facilities at the health center quickly. "We need a well-equipped emergency room at the center as our township is located far away from government hospitals," he added.

People of Ateef have to travel more than 100 km to reach hospitals in Taif for treatment, Al-Otaibi said and hoped that the authorities would respond positively to the people's calls.

Mufleh Al-Rouqi agreed with Al-Otaibi's view and called for the establishment of a government hospital in Ateef to serve people of the township and neighboring villages.

"We don't know the reason for the delay in implementing the hospital project even after allocating the necessary land," he added.

Abdulhadi Al-Rubaiee, spokesman for Taif Health Affairs, said the health center in Ateef was provided with a doctor and a nurse. It operates 24 hours during Haj, Ramadan and summer seasons.

He did not speak about any plan to expand the health center.


February 17, 2018
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