JEDDAH, 9 February 2003 — No cases of contagious diseases have so far been reported among pilgrims, the Health Ministry announced yesterday.
It attributed the good health report to the preventive measures taken by the ministry as well as pleasant weather conditions prevailing in the holy sites.
Dr. Redha ibn Mohammed Khaleel, chairman of the preparatory health committee for Haj, said 316 pilgrims suffering from common diseases have been admitted to hospitals in the holy sites. Fifteen sunstroke cases have also been reported among pilgrims, he added.
Khaleel estimated the total number of pilgrims receiving treatment at government hospitals in Makkah, Arafat, Muzdalifa and Mina at 60,871. Among them 12,639 reported to emergency wards. The public health centers in the holy sites have also provided treatment to 78,706 pilgrims this year.
More than 1.4 million pilgrims have arrived from nearly 170 countries to perform Haj this year. They will be joined by an estimated one million faithful from within the Kingdom, including expatriate workers.
The Health Ministry has deployed 9,343 doctors, nurses, medical technicians and administrators to provided health services to pilgrims this Haj season.
“There is remarkable fall in cases of illness among pilgrims this year compared to the past four years,” the health official said. The number of patients who received first aid also fell from 2,827 in 2001 to 2,481 this year. The number of pilgrims admitted to hospitals declined from 444 in 2001 to 316 this year, he pointed out.
The ministry has established 84 health centers in the holy sites, including 44 in Arafat, six in Muzdalifa and 34 in Mina. It has upgraded the Arafat General Hospital.
The ministry has readied 80 well-equipped ambulances to carry patients and accident victims to hospitals and health centers during the Haj season.
Health Minister Dr. Osama Shubokshi recently inspected some of the hospitals and health centers in Makkah, Mina and Jeddah.
The government has recruited a number of medical professors and experts both from within and outside the Kingdom to improve health services during the pilgrimage.
The ministry has also readied 8,000 blood units to meet emergency requirements. It has spent more than SR32 million to develop health facilities in the holy sites, and has upgraded the intensive care unit at Namira Hospital in Arafat and installed a fire alarm at Mina Hospital.
