The growing number of workers involved in construction-related activities on projects in and around Umm Slal has led to a renewed demand for setting up an exclusive workers’ medical centre in the neighbourhood.
There has been a steep rise in the number of workers living in the accommodation units lying within Umm Slal and surrounding areas over the last 4-5 years, it is learnt. However, even now the workers have to travel to health centres located either in Doha’s Mesaimeer area or Al Khor to meet their medical requirements, interactions with some residents of the area revealed.
As a result, there has been a series of demands from workers - as well as their employers - for opening either an exclusive workers’ health facility in Umm Slal or providing some facilities for them at the medical centre in Umm Slal.
The manager of a company’s labour camp in the area, housing more than 1,200 workers, said a number of firms have moved their workers’ accommodation to Umm Slal since the time they arrived in the neighbourhood more than four years ago.
Now, it is believed that no less than 35,000-40,000 workers are residing in the labour camps in Umm Slal and on its outskirts, according to sources. “More camps are coming up in different places under the Umm Slal municipal limits,” the manager added.
“At present, workers have to spend a considerable time travelling long distances to Doha or Al Khor for their medical requirements,” said the accommodation in-charge of a contracting camp. A health facility in the vicinity will help solve this problem, it is felt.
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