HAIMA: The health system in Al Wusta Governorate is witnessing ongoing projects aimed at enhancing efficiency through infrastructure development and the expansion of preventive, curative and rehabilitative services across all wilayats and villages.
These efforts strengthen primary healthcare and link it with specialised services through 18 facilities, including 4 hospitals and 14 health centres, located in the wilayats of Haima, Mahout, Al Duqm and Al Jazir.
These facilities serve over 64,000 Omani citizens and residents, providing comprehensive, sustainable, high-quality health coverage utilising advanced medical equipment and a skilled medical workforce.
Dr Ibrahim bin Hilal al Mahrooqi, Director-General of Health Services in Al Wusta Governorate, affirmed that health services in the governorate have achieved remarkable progress over the past three years, becoming increasingly accessible to citizens in their places of residence. Previously, patients had to visit hospitals in other governorates for certain medical specialities; now, many of those services have been brought closer to them, meeting the highest quality standards and aligning with the ministry's goal of decentralising health services, he added.
In a statement to ONA, he pointed out that among the health services provided by the Ministry of Health in Al Wusta is dialysis, which is now available in Haima, Mahout and Al Jazir, and will soon be available in Al Duqm, enabling citizens to receive treatment within their own governorate.
He explained that Mahout Hospital, which opened on April 29 of this year, stands as an icon among Al Wusta's hospitals due to its wide range of medical specialities, advanced equipment in the emergency department and other units, and its capacity to perform various surgical procedures.
He noted that the hospital serves over 30,000 citizens and residents. It also provides services to the coastal populations of Al Sharqiyah South Governorate near Mahout, including Khawima and surrounding villages, as well as several nearby villages in Al Sharqiyah North Governorate. Furthermore, its strategic location in the Al Jawbah area, at the intersection of roads to and from Al Sharqiyah North, Al Sharqiyah South, and Dhofar governorates, qualifies it to offer emergency and ambulance services to road users.
Dr Ibrahim stated that "the next step includes the opening of the Advanced Emergency Unit project at Al Duqm Hospital, one of the largest health projects in Al Wusta Governorate, currently under construction through a community partnership with OQ, the global integrated energy group."
He added that the project has reached 90 per cent completion and is expected to open in the second half of this year. The facility includes an operating suite, 10 beds for accident cases, an operating theatre, an emergency unit, an intensive care unit (ICU), inpatient rooms, a blood storage unit and ancillary health facilities.
He indicated that, in four months, the emergency department at Al Jazir Hospital will open, featuring specialised consultation rooms and resuscitation rooms.
He also mentioned that the expansion of specialised outpatient clinics and the Mother and Child Centre at Haima Hospital will open in the second half of this year. This expansion includes clinics for otorhinolaryngology (ENT), dermatology, internal medicine, surgery, paediatrics and obstetrics and gynaecology, as well as certain subspecialities such as nutrition and ophthalmology. Over 90 per cent of the project has been completed.
Dr Ibrahim clarified that Haima Hospital expansion project serves citizens and residents of Al Wusta Governorate's wilayats as well as the wilayat of Maqshin in Dhofar Governorate, following coordination with the Directorate-General of Health Services in Dhofar Governorate.
Regarding the Mother and Child Center at Haima Hospital, he stated that the centre is being established through self-efforts and with support from the Ministry of Health. The building has been completed, and training and recruitment of physicians are underway. The centre is expected to open at the end of this year.
He added that the centre will include specialised clinics for women's and children's health, inpatient rooms and healthcare services to provide a comprehensive reproductive health package and improve community reproductive behaviour to reduce child mortality rates, with a focus on newborns, infants, and children under five years of age. — ONA
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