FUJAIRAH // Three northern emirates health centres will open before the end of this month following years of construction.
Dr Mohammed bin Saeed, Fujairah Medical Zone director, said that the recruiting process had been finalised with about 150 medical and administrative staff hired to start operating the centres at Dadna, Al Khulaibia and Al Okameya.
“The Ministry of Public works handed the centres to us about two years ago, but our priority was to establish and finalise Masafi Hospital and upgrade Fujairah Hospital. Now we are ready to start operating the new centres,” he said.
The centres will serve around 15,000 residents, according to the Fujairah Statistics Centre.
“All the surrounding areas, Al Teba, Wadei Al Seder, Al Holwa and Sharm, will benefit from the primary healthcare services that will be provided by the centres,” Dr bin Saeed said.
Residents welcomed the news of healthcare facilities opening near by their homes.
Mohammed Shareef, a 29-year-old Indian working in a grocery shop near Al Khulaibia health centre, said that the building had been ready since 2010 and he was very glad that it would be opening soon.
“At last I will see it operate, because the nearest other facility is 10 kilometres away and by opening this centre it will be a great relief.”
A 36-year-old Emirati living in Dadna said that he would no longer have to drive long distances to reach the nearest hospital.
“This is the best news of the day. I’m really happy that they will finally open Dadna healthcare centre,” said Abdukareem Al Marzouki. “Instead of driving 30 minutes to reach Dibba or Masafi hospital, I will only have to drive 10 minutes.”
rhaza@thenational.ae