By Abdul Aziz Muafa
Okaz/Saudi Gazette
DHAMAD — The contractor of a primary healthcare center in Dhamad in the southern province of Jazan has created many problems for residents as the company did not complete the project despite starting the digging work 11 years ago. The stalled project is endangering people’s safety.
“Rain water will turn these huge patches in the area into swamps that produce disease-carrying mosquitoes,” said Mohammed Muafa, a resident, while speaking to Okaz/Saudi Gazette. "Moreover, many people have fallen in these holes and they have also damaged several vehicles," he added.
Muafa urged the Health Ministry to take quick steps to complete the healthcare project or at least fill the holes to ensure the safety of residents.
“We call upon the Health Ministry and Dhamad Municipality to end our suffering of 11 years as a result of the disruption of this health project,” he explained.
Muafa denounced the unsympathetic attitude of officials toward the suffering of Dhamad residents for the past several years.
“The project site has become a deep swamp spreading bad smell. Over the past decade authorities did not take any action to solve this problem,” he said.
Ahmed Habeebi also denounced the authorities for keeping the digging works at the proposed health center even though it is threatening the security and safety of citizens. “We take this opportunity to call upon the authorities to complete the primary healthcare center as early as possible.”
He said the suffering of Dhamad people increases during the rainy season and as rainwater and flash floods create huge swamps in the construction site.
Ismail Najee held the Health Ministry, Dhamad Municipality and Civil Defense Department responsible for the continuation of the problem created by the project’s disruption.
“The authorities have to take quick measures to complete the project or to fill the deep holes and patches created for the project to prevent people from falling into them,” he said.
Najee said the happiness brought about by the healthcare center project turned into a catastrophe as a result of the negligence of authorities. “We are afraid the authorities would not make any move until some fatal accidents occur,” he added.
Ahmed Khani condemned the negligence by the authorities, saying they play with the lives of citizens. “These big holes created for implementing the project have been threatening the lives of Dhamad people for 11 years,” he said.
He urged the authorities to resolve the problem immediately before causing any fatal accidents.
