RIYADH, 8 December 2006 — The Ministry of Health has made extensive arrangements at a cost of SR230 million to improve its health services to the pilgrims in Makkah, Mina and Madinah, a spokesman from the ministry told Arab News.
“There are 21 hospitals and 145 health centers with 3,932 beds,” said ministry spokesman Dr. Khaled Al-Mirghalani, pointing out that these medical centers will be manned by 9,600 health workers including physicians, technical personnel, nurses and administrative staff.
In Madinah there are eight hospitals and 22 medical centers to serve the pilgrims.
He said this year’s program would be implemented under a comprehensive plan prepared as per the lessons learned from last year’s Haj. The new program includes a medical awareness campaign, an epidemic monitoring plan and identifying global and regional diseases.
“The program will be carried out in close cooperation with the international health organizations and non-governmental bodies dealing with food, medicines and common infections,” he said.
When the pilgrims move to Mina, the ministry will commission emergency hospitals with 182 beds at a cost of SR185 million. The hospital situated near Jamrat Bridge will be used for emergency treatment.
He added that six field hospitals are being set up in the vicinity of the Jamrat to cater to pilgrims during their stay in Mina. The hospital near Jebal Al-Rahma in Arafat has been expanded to 50 beds at a cost of SR15 million. The Namira Hospital has also been expanded at a cost of SR5 million.
The ministry has upgraded 11 health centers and intensive care units of a number of hospitals in the holy city with SR7 million providing them with advanced equipment.
24,000 Yemeni Pilgrims
Yemeni Minister of Endowments and Guidance Hammoud Abbad said yesterday that about 24,000 Yemenis will perform Haj this year. He said all arrangements have been made for their travel and accommodation.
He said the ministry will assign a supervisor for every 50 pilgrims to help them complete the Haj rituals in ease and comfort.
In a statement carried by Saudi Press Agency, Abbad said there has been coordination with the concerned authorities in Saudi Arabia for providing means of transportation within the holy sites as well as selecting adequate housing for the pilgrims in Makkah. He said pilgrims traveling by land began their journey yesterday.
Meanwhile, Algerian Minister of Religious Affairs and Endowments Bouabdellah Ghilmallah said the first groups of pilgrims will start their journey tomorrow.
