Al-Jouf Governor, His Royal Highness Prince Fahad bin Bandar bin Abdulaziz, at the presence of His Excellency the Minister of Health, Dr. Abdullah al-Rabeeah, launched on Tuesday a set of health in the region at a total cost of SR 1 billion.
The inauguration ceremony were begun by unveiling the memorial plaque of Prince Met'eb bin Abdulaziz Hospital, which has been established at a total cost of SR 321 million, and at a capacity of 300 beds. Accompanied by Dr. al-Rabeeah and a number of the MOH senior officials, Prince Fahad had an inspection tours through the hospital, where they listened to an account on the medical and technical equipment of the hospital, by Dr. Abdullah al-Mo'allem, the director general of al-Jouf health affairs.
It followed that the Prince and those accompanying him headed to Kind Abdulaziz Specialist Hospital in al-Jouf, which accommodates 300 beds, and was established at a total cost of SR 453 million, whereas the cost of the dental center is SR 50 million, and the diabetes center SR 7 million. During the tour, the Prince visited the various sections, and was briefed on the modern, high-tech appliances with which the hospital has been equipped. Prince Fahad unveiled the memorial plaque, giving way to its opening.
After that, the Prince and guests headed to the ceremony, where the royal anthem was played, and the ceremony was set out by a Quranic verse. And then a documentary was played, showing the health projects being opened that night, as well as the Kingdom's efforts in that domain, and the unstinting support provided for the health sector, seeking to maintain citizens' health and gain their satisfaction.
Then, His Excellency the Minister of Health, Dr. Abdullah bin Abdulaziz Al-Rabeeah delivered a speech, greeting the governor of al-Jouf region prince Fahad bin Bader bin Abdulaziz, saying "The huge health projects that have been inaugurated at Al-Jouf region are a major event in the history of healthcare services and we should be proud of them."
He went on adding, "It is the beginning of a quantum leap for the concept and quality of healthcare services. Allah willing, they are to be followed by major projects and achievements constituting part of a vision of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, May Allah protect him, who conscientiously paved the boundless path of development and supremacy."
Addressing the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, Dr. Al-Rabeeah said, "Our leader, the Ministry of Health (MOH) has been honored to serve this dear country and its dignified citizens. And your strict directives, May Allah protect you, stand as a beacon blazing the trail for the MOH officials; who, overwhelmingly happy, seek to carry them out assiduously."
"Our prince, in the past week, we were in Teba region, celebrating the inauguration of several health projects, and today, in Sakakah, under your auspices, we open a host of important projects such as King Abdulaziz Specialized Hospital, Prince Miteb bin Abdulaziz Hospital, the Diabetes Center, and the Specialized Dental Center, among others of the well-intentioned projects," Dr. Al-Rabeeah said addressing Prince Fahad, adding "You also are to lay the foundation stone for other new projects, and that is what we always expect from your wise leadership in this munificent country where the wheel of growth, progress, and development does not come to a halt.
Even more, Dr. Al-Rabeeah affirmed that we, while being among our dear people, would like to emphasize that the entire cities and governorates of our dear Kingdom are soon to inaugurate huge projects which the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, may Allah protect him, gave directives to implement them, as well as laying the stepping stone for other future projects. Thus, the MOH will be able to increase the patients' beds to double as they were five years ago. Similarly, the MOH's aspirations are not restricted to increasing the number of beds, but it goes as far as improving their kind and quality.
Dr. Al-Rabeeah highlighted that the MOH has applied the latest hospital constriction standards, going with the world standards adopted in the United States of America. The MOH has been also keen to make the patients' rooms single or at most double, as an appreciation to the patient's privacy and comfort. Even more, the hospitals were equipped with the latest health technologies, in a manner that achieves balance and fair distribution of services among the regions, without neglecting factors of technology and equipment.
In a similar fashion, Dr. al-Rabeeah added that the wheel of development, launched by the MOH, has covered all health facilities as the MOH experiences a great boom involving the primary healthcare, quality, and accreditation. To that effect, more than seventy hospitals and health facilities were awarded domestic and international certificate. Also, the MOH has not ignored the training and scholarship programs, which come at the core of the developmental process, as it is widely known that the optimal investment is embodied in developing the skills of the national cadres.
He made clear that the MOH inaugurated and operated 75 hospitals and 824 health centers in the past five years. It is expected that more than 40 hospitals are to be established in the next two years, Allah willing. This, in turn, mirrors the magnitude of this boom and assiduous efforts that the MOH has not witnessed over its long history. As part of its endeavors to communicate with citizens via its portal, the MOH has launched a number of key programs which brought about a quantum leap therein.
Dr. Al-Rabeeah went on to thank the Prince of Al-Jouf for his support to the health sector, pointing out that he could not deny that Prince Fahad is behind the MOH's accomplishments. In a similar fashion, he extended his thanks to the region's municipality and the people of Al-Jouf and whoever participated and attended. And he especially thanked the Ministry of Finance and Ministry of Culture and Information, as well as media professionals.
Afterwards, Prince Fahad signed contracts of the new health projects, to be carried out in Al-Jouf region, and then he and Dr. Al-Rabeeah exchanged shields. Further, Prince Fahad extended, in person and on behalf of the region's people, his thanks to the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz, may Allah protect him, for the care and interest he attaches to the citizens of this generous country, and for his wise directives, may Allah protect him, to the princes and ministers in terms of keeping a close eye on the citizens' affairs, meeting their needs, and checking the services provided for them.
Prince Fahad went on to make clear that these health projects are the first of its kind in the region, noting that their establishment cost exceeds SR 1 billion. These projects include King Abdulaziz Specialized Hospital and its related centers and Prince Miteb bin Abdulaziz Hospital which was equipped with the latest technical and medical equipments, to keep abreast of the medical development in the world.
"During the past years, we worked on developing a comprehensive health system delivering the best medical services for this region's citizens; in a bid to alleviate the suffering of their travel to the main regions and to enable patients and their relatives to follow up their health conditions closely," Prince Fahad said. "Over and above, I should shed light on the construction process at Prince Mohammed bin Abdulaziz Medical City, which will serve the northern regions' citizens," he noted, adding that it will provide the citizens of the Kingdom's northern regions with high-quality health services. To that effect, Prince Fahad extended his thanks and appreciation to the Minister of Health Dr. Abdullah bin Abdulaziz Al-Rabeeah.
Finally, the Prince prayed for Almighty Allah to perpetuate the grace of security for our country under the leadership of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz, His Royal Highness the Crown Prince Salman bin Abdulaziz, and His Royal Highness the Second Deputy Prime Minister, Prince Meqren bin Abdulaziz; in order to complete the march of building and development for this faithful people, who sacrificed their souls for the sake of maintaining the integrity of their country.