MINA, 11 February 2003 — This year the Ministry of Health recruited 208 Saudi Boy Scouts to serve in its health care facilities in the holy places during Haj. They were sent in different units to the holy places in Mina, Arafat, Muzdalifa and Makkah.
“We hope to have some of routine work done by the Boy Scouts in place of ministry personnel, who have other, more specialized jobs to do,” Dr. Ali ibn Dhafir Al Kahtani, the head of Haj student recruitment committee at the Health Ministry, told Arab News.
“We also use this recruitment as a way of familiarizing these youngsters with healthcare work, so they might consider it as a future career. We still have shortage of Saudi nationals working in the Kingdom’s healthcare network,” he added.
The jobs they undertake include giving directions to patients inside hospitals and healthcare centers, helping keep order in waiting areas, and escorting the pilgrims to their accommodation after they are discharged.
Meanwhile, more than 450 sick pilgrims admitted to hospitals in Makkah and Madinah were taken to Arafat yesterday by Health Ministry ambulances.
