By Abdulaziz Al-Rubie
MAKKAH — Residents of Wadi Numan, 15 km east of Makkah, were anxiously waiting for Al-Kar Shaddad health center to be completed as per promises made to them by the Ministry of Health.
The residents, however, woke up the other day to find a big signboard erected in front of the center's building clearly stating that the project was put on suspension.
"For five years we have been waiting for the health center to be completed. Instead the reward for our patient waiting was a signboard telling us that the project was suspended," said Saeed Al-Lahyani, a resident.
He said now they would have to continue their arduous journey looking for medical treatment elsewhere in the holy city.
"Regretfully, the Department of Health Affairs was giving us promises that the center would soon be opened but it finally surprised us that work on the project has been suspended," he said.
Lahyani asked the ministry to continue working on the project and said the residents were disappointed and saddened by the stoppage of work on the center.
Khaled Al-Otaibi, another resident, said the suspension of work on the project had shattered their dreams of having a health facility close by to provide them with curative and preventive services.
He asked the ministry to remove the signboard and work on the completion of the center, at least to receive emergency cases, especially the people injured in road accidents.
Salem Al-Harbi lamented the stoppage of work on the project and asked the concerned authorities to punish those who were behind delaying the project.
"An investigation should immediately be opened into the faltered project, for which we have been waiting for so long," he said.
He also asked about the fate of the deserted building and said the wastage of funds should not go unaccountable.
Spokesman for Health Affairs Hameed Al-Malki promised to give answers to all the queries about the center but has been silent for more than two weeks now.
