MAWIYA – People of Mawiya, which has been elevated to a separate governorate, are calling for the establishment of a college to meet the needs of a growing number of students, including girls, who currently are forced travel to nearby cities for higher education. "There are more than 600 boys and girls in Mawiya who pursue university education at colleges located in faraway cities. Some of these students have become victims of road accidents as a result of their long commutes," said Ahmed Farie Al-Sumairy. Worried parents often discourage their children, especially girls, from pursuing higher education because they have to travel to far-off places due to the absence of a university or college in Mawiya, Al-Sumairy said. He urged the president of Taif University to open a campus in the governorate. Mawiya residents have a number of other demands. Mutlaq Al-Kharasi requested the authorities to establish a Civil Affairs Office in the governorate to help its residents avoid traveling long distances to complete matters related to civil affairs, such as registering births and deaths. "We also need a Passport Office, because the nearest Passport Office is located in Al-Khurma. There are a large number of expatriate workers in the city and they need passport services frequently." Abdul Rahman Al-Otaibi said the city required a anti-drug department to combat drug addicts and traffickers. "The Education Department in Mawiya must be renovated as it now operates in an old rented building that does not suit the city's position," he added. Residents also urged the Health Ministry to provide the new hospital in the city with required number of doctors, nurses and other staff. "The hospital was opened five years ago but it lacks necessary health services thus forcing people to visit hospitals in other cities." People of Mawiya travel to Taif, located 150 km away, to receive specialized medical services, said Muneer Al-Otaibi. "We were happy when we got a new hospital but its condition is worse than a primary healthcare center," he explained. Ziyad Al-Rouqi said the hospital in Mawiya required urgent maintenance after part of the building collapsed due to poor construction. Meanwhile, the people of Dhalam, a township in Mawiya, have called upon the authorities to upgrade it into a separate governorate considering its growing population and the large number of villages in its jurisdiction. "We are awaiting a decision by higher authorities upgrading Dhalam into a governorate to accelerate its development," said Khaled Al-Kharasi while speaking to Okaz/Saudi Gazette. "Dhalam's geographical position as a link between Riyadh and Makkah regions demands its development," Al-Kharasi insisted. "We need an electricity office in Dhalam to provide maintenance services for homes and companies quickly," said Fahd Al-Rouqi. People of Dhalam also need a post office and a Civil Defense office. Abdul Aziz Al-Ghanami spoke about Dhalam Hospital and said it lacked clinics for dermatology and chest and lung diseases, an intensive care unit and a dialysis center.
