Morocco's youth spotlight Agadir hospital as emblem of healthcare collapse
FeatureAt the heart of protests following the death in August of eight women after failed c-sections, the Hassan-II facility embodies all the weaknesses of Morocco's two-tier healthcare system.
The ongoing construction site is misleading. Near the Hassan-II Regional Hospital Center (CHR) in Agadir, fences have been set up and workers are busy in the October heat. However, the renovation work stops at the hospital doors.
With the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) football tournament approaching, scheduled from December 21 to January 18, the southern coastal city of Morocco is polishing its image by modernizing access roads to the stadium hosting several matches. The CHR, however, is not part of the showcase.
Since opening in 1967, the facility has never undergone major renovations. Today, it is a worn-out building unable to handle the flow of patients, most of whom come from rural southern provinces.
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