By Sarmad Qazi
Some of the visitors to General Medical Commission have complained about the poor cleanliness at the health screening facility which is usually visited by newcomers to the country.
They said most of the toilets seem to have not been cleaned for days as closets have dirt hanging lose around the corners. Soap dispensers remain unfilled and hand dryers do not work while overflowing dustbins add to the nauseating smell.
General Medical Commission, in Abu Hamour, is the main centre in Qatar for conducting medical check-ups on all foreign nationals who want to obtain a stay permit in the country, and receives, on an average, around 40,000 people every month.
“The walls around the closets seem to have not been cleaned for months. There is no hand wash soap. The dispenser is there, but it is empty. The hand-dryer does not work. The floors are dirty. The dustbins are kept uncleaned and not disposed,” said a food and beverages supervisor who visits the centre regularly to keep his staff licences updated.
“Light bulbs have not been replaced, the ceiling vent has dirt stuck all around it,” he added.
On the premises, there are four water coolers. However, a close look will reveal steel mugs chained to taps, with flies hovering over them.
“Apparently they have been installed for thousands of labourers coming here, but offering only a steel mug is not very hygienic itself,” another frequent visitor noted.
The surrounding area of the water coolers remains littered with trash of all kinds. There is no snack bar in the premises except a vending machine for soft beverages.
“This centre plays a major part in keeping the population of the country healthy so it deserves better maintenance,” he said. “The work should begin with improving the hygienic conditions,” he said.
Some said there is need for a canteen at the centre since visitors stay there for long hours, many arriving as early as 6am.
When contacted, an official at the commission told Gulf Times that the previous cleaning company had just been fired and a new contract awarded to a different service provider which begun operations on November 1.
“This company has 20 male workers and 10 female workers working in the morning shift, while another 20 male workers work the evening shift. It’s early to gauge their performance,” he said. |
