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By Noora Ibrahim.
Benghazi, 14 February 2014:
The closure of another public hospital could spell disaster for Benghazi residents as strikes over safety . . .[restrict]fears leave the city’s two main health centres partially closed.
Both Al-Jalaa Hospital and Benghazi Medical Centre (BMC) closed yesterday, with the exception of their emergency wards, due to disputes which threatened staff safety. A doctor working at BMC, speaking on condition of anonymity, told the Libya Herald that medical staff went on strike after weapons were brandished during an argument between the families of two patients.
Benghazi Joint Security Room (BJSR) members met with doctors and administrators at BMC yesterday to try to find a solution to the security concerns, according to BJSR spokesman Ibrahim Al-Sharaa. He said the closure of further health centres, either the Hawari or 17 February Hospital, could be a “catastrophe”.
The closure of hospitals across the country because of security concerns has become increasingly frequent. Earlier this month Al-Jalaa Hospital closed temporarily after a number of patients were reportedly injured when gunmen opened fire on hospital security guards.
Tripoli Central Hospital has just reopened after partial closure for a month. This followed armed clashes that left one police officer dead, caused extensive damage to one of the hospital buildings and spilled over into the hospital’s emergency ward. [/restrict]
