Three government authorities in Baish Governorate have been pursuing a maintenance company for nine months because it has refused to pump out sewer water coming from the nurses' residence of Baish General Hospital and fix the problem that is causing it. The governorate, municipality and the Health Administration have demanded that authorities take legal measures against the company. Naif Khawaji, Director of the Maintenance Department in Jizan Health Administration said that officials have written to the company and insisted that it take action. He added if the establishment does not respond, legal measures would be taken against it. “The Health Administration will not allow any evasion and foot-dragging that causes harm to the workers and the citizens and expatriates neighboring the nurses' residence,” he said. The manager of the maintenance company could not be reached for comment. Residents of Al-Nuzha District, who said the foul odors and other problems are serious matters, are demanding that officials force the company to fix the problem or replace it with one that will. Jibran Al-Jandali, a citizen who lives in the area, said the leakage of foul-smelling wastewater has led him and others to file a collective complaint at the Baish Governorate. The complaint was referred to the hospital administration, which wrote to the Maintenance Department in the region's Health Administration on Dec. 28, 2009, he added. “The letter said the nurses' residence needs maintenance, repair of the sewage system and daily cleaning services, but the company refused to respond to these demands and many months have passed,” Al-Jandali said. Al-Jandali said Baish General Hospital wrote to the municipality about four months ago and informed it about the letter from the Directorate of Health Affairs to force the company to carry out immediate maintenance, but the company did not respond. Al-Jandali drew attention to the dangers of the stagnant pools of water and water overflowing on streets, which create an environment for diseases and creates inconveniences for the residents. He asked why the company has not been replaced and why it has not been punished.
