JEDDAH, 3 October 2007 — Their job is to do everything in their power to save lives regardless of the circumstances or conditions. During Ramadan, doctors forego the traditions of iftar (the fast-breaking at sunset) and sahour (the pre-dawn meal) in order to fulfill their duties. It may be the month of mercy and peace, but it’s also a month of chaos on the roads, especially the ones linking Jeddah to the holy cities.
According to Dr. Fahd Abdul Jabbar, a second-year surgical resident of orthopedics at King Fahd General Hospital, Ramadan is a high season for the ER.
“After 11 or 12 at night, it’s chaos in the ER,” said the doctor. “A lot of car-accident victims are admitted. Accidents are caused by speeding, especially on the Makkah-Jeddah Expressway since Ramadan is also a high season for Umrah (pilgrimage).”
The doctor said that fights, too, seem to bring bleeding patients to the ER, especially before the iftar when there’s a mad rush to pick up traditional fast-breaking items, like sambousas and ful, and to get home before sunset.
Abdul Jabbar says the doctors share days that they are on call. For his eight days during Ramadan where he can be called in to treat emergencies, Abdul Jabbar says it’s common for him to work a shift that is nearly 24 hours.
Dr. Sarah Mohamed has it even worse: She is two months into pregnancy and consistently hit with pregnancy-related nausea. She says that her ER receives an increase in diabetes patients suffering from hyperglycemia, probably related to low-blood sugar from the altered dietary regime during Ramadan.
(Islam provides health-related fasting exemptions, but many whose health might be affected by fasting choose to fast anyway.)
“During Ramadan, operations are only done for patients in critical conditions and who need urgent surgeries,” said Mohamed, who is a fourth-year internal medicine resident at a public hospital.
Mohamed also has to go back home to take care of her daughter, which puts more pressure on her Ramadan routine.
A second year pediatric resident, Dr. Taghreed Ayed, from the Maternity and Children’s Hospital, says that they actually work less during Ramadan.
“Most child patients coming to the hospitals these days (during Ramadan) suffer from anemia due to fasting,” he said. “They fast at a young age — starting when they’re six years old.” (Children are encouraged to fast starting from the age of seven, but it becomes obligatory at adulthood.)
Doctors in Jeddah say that the city attracts more people during the Eid holiday, and that hospital traffic increases then as well.
“The number of patients coming to the hospitals increases consequently,” said Dr. Nader Gazzaz, a second-year pediatric resident at King Abdul Aziz Hospital and Tumor Center. “We many times had to postpone our iftar and cancel sahour to follow up with the cases.”
Gazzaz said that the busiest department in his hospital is the orthopedic due to the number of car accidents.
Ramadan is also the season of local football leagues and tournaments. Gazzaz said there’s a noticeable increase in sports injuries, too. Nevertheless, the doctor enjoys the season at work.
“I enjoy working in Ramadan,” he said. “Not working during Ramadan is annoying. Work is worship so we are worshipping God through working on saving lives and healing people.”
