Community Outcry Over Health Center Closure
Residents from several localities under the jurisdiction of the Saada municipality, situated in the outskirts of Marrakech, are expressing their frustration over the continued closure of the Harbil health center, which has remained inaccessible to the public. The community is demanding the reinstatement of essential health services that are conveniently located for their needs.
According to Faisal Al-Mustagith, a community activist from Harbil village, the health center was shut down following an incident involving a nurse who allegedly threw stones at a patient. This disturbing event has sparked widespread discontent among the local population. Al-Mustagith noted that the incident was recorded in a video that circulated widely, prompting residents to protest and call for immediate action, specifically requesting the removal of the nurse in question and the replacement with a qualified professional who is adept at handling patients and interacting respectfully with the public, rather than closing the facility entirely.
Emphasizing their stance, Al-Mustagith pointed out that the community is not advocating for the health center's closure; rather, they are insisting on appropriate measures against the implicated nurse while ensuring that health services remain available to residents. He remarked that shutting down the health center is not a viable solution to the issue at hand and that the real victims of this closure are the local inhabitants who depend on these essential health services.
In response to the incident, the regional health department of Marrakech intervened, deciding to suspend the nurse on a precautionary basis and referring the case to a disciplinary council after completing the necessary legal procedures. However, the continued closure of the health center has exacerbated the difficulties faced by residents, who previously relied on this facility for their health needs, now forced to travel to healthcare institutions located far from their homes.
Al-Mustagith raised concerns among the community regarding the lack of transparency about the reasons for the health center's prolonged closure, emphasizing that the issue was not about the community's demand for closure but rather about addressing the incident involving one of the staff members while ensuring the continuity of health services. He highlighted that such a situation places a heavy burden on patients, the elderly, and families without private transportation, who are compelled to travel outside their village for necessary medical consultations and treatments.
On behalf of the residents, Al-Mustagith is urging the responsible authorities to clarify the status of the health center and the actions being taken to reopen it. He insists on the need for adequate medical and nursing staff, essential equipment, and a commitment to professional, respectful treatment of patients.
He stressed that the residents of the Saada municipality are eagerly awaiting a resolution that ensures the health center reopens, as its continued closure deprives the area of vital services and forces citizens to incur additional costs and inconveniences to receive medical care. In conclusion, Al-Mustagith called on the relevant authorities to expedite the necessary procedures to reopen the health center and to communicate the outcomes of the actions taken following the nurse's incident, ensuring that the repercussions of this event do not continue to infringe upon the community’s right to access health services.
As reported by al3omk.com.
