El Hamma Hospital Operating Rooms Finally Operational After Thirteen Years of Waiting

Residents of El Hamma, Tunisia, can now access surgical care closer to home, as the hospital's operating rooms have finally become operational after a 13-year delay. For years, patients requiring surgery were forced to travel to the regional hospital in Gabès, enduring lengthy wait times and significant suffering due to the lack of functional operating facilities in El Hamma.

The project to make the two operating rooms functional had been stalled since April 2013 due to technical and logistical issues. Over time, the rooms deteriorated, necessitating their prolonged closure. However, following directives from the Minister of Health, Mustapha Ferjani, to improve healthcare access, the operating rooms received state-of-the-art medical equipment on May 20.

June 10 marked a historic milestone for El Hamma Hospital, as four general surgeries were successfully performed for the first time in over a decade. A medical team from the Gabès University Hospital collaborated to support the launch of surgical activities. The reopening was made possible by overcoming the administrative, technical, and logistical obstacles that had prevented their use for years.

This development has brought immense relief to the inhabitants of El Hamma and the hospital staff. The reactivation of the surgical units is a major achievement for the region, enabling local patients to receive necessary surgical care without the burden of extensive travel to Gabès.