The Egyptian Center for Economic and Social Rights To the Minister of Health : Citizens at Mit-Ya'eesh Are Frustrated EGP 75000 risk EGP 6 million And Halts Local Hospital Operation (Serves 50,000 Citizens)

Cairo 19/10/2010

A transformer costing EGP 75,000 stops the operation of Mit-Ya’eesh village. The hospital project was canceled from the ministry plan without declaring reasons.

Mit-Yaeesh is a village in Mit-Ghamr , Dakahlia. It has a population of 30,000 citizens. The village has got the oldest medical clinic in Egypt,built on half a feddan , serving also the surrounding villages, Hakeiya and  Kafr al-Mohamadiya as well as two ranches ,Ahmed Abdo and Rafla.

In 1988, the premises of the clinic was abolished by a government decision. All doctors and clerks were squeezed in an apartment to perform all medical services in addition to births and deaths registration. The nearest hospital was in Mit-Ghamr , 30 km away . For 12 years , the citizens suffered and death tallies in this area added up.

After so many efforts were made, a new building was constructed on 3000 sq.m. and it did not hold the name medical clinic but ” Family Health Center “. It is a 3- storey building that has patient reception , clinics, radiology , dentistry, all medical tests, two ORs, staff hostel, patient rooms, administration offices, laundry and kitchen. An EGP 300,000 worth disposables and supplies were provided from the central medical supplies authority.

It was expected that all remaining supplies will be provided in the year plan 2010 – 2011.  However, the cost, as it comes in the supplier offer, of the electrical transformer that supplies electricity to the hospital made the government refrain from operating the hospital alleging there was no funding.  The offer is valid till 3/11/2010 and it is needless to say that prices never drop in Egypt and any further delay is sure to make costs higher meaning that a new offer will certainly include a larger sum of money than EGP 75,000.

In addition , the hospital remains  not operational leading to more suffering of citizens of Mit-Ya’eesh and the surrounding villages who waited for 12 years to have a hospital.

The Egyptian Center for Economic and Social Rights denounces lifting the hospital from the health plan and asks the minister of health to intervene and supply the required sum of money in order to operate the hospital before 3/11/2010.