Saudi Gazette report

 

JEDDAH — Work on the new East Jeddah Hospital in the Briman district will start this year, the director of Jeddah Health Affairs has said.



“Construction of the hospital will be completed in three years at a cost of more than SR1 billion,” Dr. Sami Badawood told Makkah daily.



He said the hospital will have a capacity of 1,000 beds and Jeddah Municipality has already allotted the land on which it will be constructed.



Badawood said north Jeddah would have a number of health facilities, including King Abdullah Medical Complex, which is due to open next month. “A maternity and children’s hospital with a capacity of 500 beds will also be established in north Jeddah and completed in a few years,” he added.



He said the north Jeddah Hospital in Al-Sulaimaniyah district that has already been constructed would be opened within the next few days.



Badawood said a special diabetes center would be established soon to cater to the needs of the growing number of diabetic citizens.



“Diabetic citizens represent about 25 percent of the population and the Kingdom ranks among the 10 most affected countries,” he said.



The director said the Health Ministry has given special attention to diabetic patients and established a number of centers to care for them. “Each center has a consultant who visits diabetic patients at their homes to follow up on their health very closely,” he added.



He also said the ministry has introduced health awareness programs in the schools and universities to enlighten students about the dangers of diabetes and explain to them preventive methods such as eating healthily and regular physical activity.