JAZAN — Several residents here have expressed anger over what they claim is the Ministry of Health's negligence in renovating the Jazan Public Hospital after it was severely damaged in a blaze 10 months ago. One resident, Nasser Saeed, said the ministry had promised the people that it would renovate the hospital and restore it to its previous condition within six months. "We are forced to approach private hospitals to receive our needed medical treatment. It is draining us financially. Transferring to other public hospitals was a hassle and it was hard to find appointments. It has been 10 months since the fire at the hospital. We don't see any development in the construction of the hospital," Saeed said. Jazan Public Hospital was the second such facility providing services in the area. "Without the hospital, the other hospital and health institutions do not have the capacity for the patients. Patients are facing a shortage in doctors and in medical supply," Saeed said. Another resident, Ahmad Sulwi, said the hospital needs to be renovated as soon as possible. "The Women and Childbirth section at King Fahd Hospital has become unbearably crowded. There isn't a specialized hospital for women and maternity cases and there aren't enough beds in the hospital. "Jazan Health Affairs Directorate promised to renovate the hospital within six months but 10 months have already passed without any visible results," Sulwi claimed. Another resident, Salem Rifaie, said those who can afford hadve transferred their patients to private hospital and those who could not afford private health care only had King Fahd Hospital as a choice. "King Fahd Hospital has become very crowded. The people of Jazan are in desperate need of Jazan Public Hospital. We are calling for the health minister to help us. All what happened was that officials visited the hospital site and approved the renovate plan. That took place three months ago. The currently available health institutions do not suffice our needs," Rifaie said.
