A specialized medical team at Maternity and Children Hospital- Abha has successfully excised a ganglioneuroma form a 9-year-old child. The tumor, 11 cm long, was attached to the aorta and the chest veins behind the lung, extending to the spine. By Allah's Grace, the girl has fully recovered and returned home without the need for chemotherapy.
It is worth mentioning that Maternity and Children Hospital-Abha (with a 240-bed capacity) features all specialties, including obstetrics and gynecology, pediatric surgery, neonatal ICU, pediatric ICU, women and children emergency.
Also, the pediatric surgery department, which is one of the largest departments in the region, conducts children and neonatal surgeries and children endoscopy. Last year, the department conducted over 1,350 surgeries, including 145 for newborns such as diaphragmatic hernia, severed esophagus repair, open abdominal hernia and intestinal obstruction. The department also handled 16 cases of Hirschsprung's disease, 96 descending urethra cases, as well as over 167 endoscopic surgeries.
On the other hand, over the past week, the 937-Service Center handled 4,375 notifications, including 194 hospital transfer requests. The Center also provided 16,345 medical consultations, and received 36,608 incoming calls, including 14, 371 inquiries and 1, 323 requests for smoking cessation treatment.
The Center provides a range of distinctive services, including inquiries about MOH’s services, outgoing and incoming transactions, health services, medical consultations, and hospital transfer requests based on the medical need, in addition to complaints against public and private health facilities. Also, the center receives all patients’ health-related calls, all complaints 24/7, and refers them to the concerned departments at MOH or its branches, as well as all emergency calls; thus, serving as a listening ear for patients to identify their needs and requirements and to meet them.
It is worth mentioning that the 937-Service Center is one of the most important MOH’s initiatives. It aims to provide medical services through its toll-free number, which can be accessed throughout the Kingdom. The center operates based on listening, response, implementation, and analysis. The performance of regional Health Affairs is evaluated by closing citizens' reports and their satisfaction with the services provided. This assessment is published weekly and directly supervised by the Minister of Health.