Mafraq – Healthcare, water, unemployment, and investment dominated discussions at a public forum organized by Radio Al-Balad's Maidani program, which reviewed progress on projects announced during the Jordanian government's February 2025 visit to Mafraq Governorate. Participants urged faster implementation of delayed projects, the construction of a new public hospital, improvements to water and sewage services, and greater employment opportunities for local youth.

Director of Mafraq Health Directorate, Dr. Faisal Al-Makahleh, said the Al-Hamra Comprehensive Health Center, funded by the Qatar Fund for Development, is in its final stage of completion, with construction reaching around 98 percent. He said the facility is expected to be officially handed over within the coming weeks.

Al-Makahleh added that the Health Ministry has been asked to provide additional medical and technical staff for the new center, while efforts are underway to introduce more specialist services, including physiotherapy, alongside equipping the facility with the necessary medical equipment.

Regarding the Al-Hussein neighborhood health center, he explained that the project remains subject to centralized procedures handled by the Ministries of Health and Public Works, noting that the directorate continues to follow up on technical studies and engineering plans ahead of construction.

He also said renovation works at Northern Badia Hospital have reached about 75 percent completion, while maintenance continues at several health centers across the governorate. Health facilities have also received new equipment for early breast cancer detection and chronic disease screening.

Member of Parliament Dr. Ismail Al-Mashaqbeh argued that most of the projects announced during the government's visit have yet to materialize on the ground, with the exception of the Greater Mafraq Park project, which has seen tangible progress.

He stressed that Mafraq urgently needs a completely new public hospital, saying the current hospital is no longer capable of meeting the needs of the governorate's growing population and that renovation or limited expansion would not solve the problem.

Al-Mashaqbeh also pointed to the continued deterioration of water and sewage services, saying several promised infrastructure projects remain stalled despite repeated government commitments.

He further called for accelerating the implementation of the planned dry port in Mafraq, describing it as a strategic economic project that could boost trade, attract investment, and create jobs.

Journalist Shadi Al-Wuhaibi described water shortages as the governorate's most pressing concern, arguing that residents are looking for practical improvements rather than additional studies or announcements.

He noted that Mafraq hosts industrial zones and investment projects, yet local residents continue to benefit only marginally from the employment opportunities they generate.

Al-Wuhaibi also renewed calls for establishing a Chamber of Industry in Mafraq, arguing that the governorate's expanding industrial base and two development zones justify such an institution to support local investment and economic growth.

The forum also heard interventions from residents, who highlighted rising unemployment, delays in government projects, inadequate healthcare services, poor water and sewage infrastructure, and the urgent need for more investment, better transportation, and improved educational services.

Participants concluded that the success of government field visits should ultimately be measured by the timely delivery of promised projects and their tangible impact on citizens' daily lives, calling for stronger oversight and regular monitoring of implementation timelines.