MAKKAH: A health center will be opened at King Abdulaziz International Airport (KAIA) in Jeddah to provide health services to incoming and outgoing pilgrims, said Khaled bin Obaid Zafar, director general of Health Affairs in Makkah province.

Zafar told Arab News that Makkah Gov. Prince Khaled Al-Faisal would inaugurate the center, which would be manned by doctors around the clock. He added that the center would give vaccinations to incoming pilgrims who were not immunized in their home countries.

“Last year more than 1.5 million pilgrims entered the Kingdom through KAIA. We expect the same number of pilgrims this year and this is why we are giving special emphasis to preventive medicine,” he said.

“The Ministry of Health will concentrate on the preventive aspect and will intensify its surveillance of entry points, especially at the airports in Jeddah and Madinah in addition to land entries,” he said.

Zafar said another health care program, entitled “Ambassadors of Health Awareness,” which was introduced for the first time last year, would be repeated this year. Under the program, about 100 final-year medical students, both male and female, will be deployed to raise health awareness among the guests of God.

The Tawafa Establishment for Arab Pilgrims will host these students and provide them with accommodation in Makkah and the holy sites, he said.

Meanwhile, Minister of Health Hamad Al-Manie said all arrangements to offer medical and emergency services to pilgrims have been put in place.

“The ministry is fully geared to offer preventive, curative and emergency health services of the highest standard to pilgrims in Makkah, including the holy sites of Mina, Arafat and Muzdalifah, and Madinah in line with the orders of Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah and Crown Prince Sultan,” Al-Manie told Arab News.

The minister said the new arrangements include 138 health centers and 24 hospitals with a total of 3,939 beds at the holy sites (Mina, Arafat and Muzdalifah) supported by a fleet of 150 ambulances.

He said that 14,000 units of blood and blood derivatives of all types have been stocked to meet with any emergency.

“More than 10,000 medical workers, including doctors and paramedics, have been hired for the Haj service. Over 100 specialist doctors from Pakistan and Jordan and 247 nurses from Malaysia have been hired especially for Haj,” the minister said.

Zafar said 13 hospitals in Jeddah with 2,200 beds and 11 hospitals in Taif with 1,800 beds will back up the Makkah hospitals.

He said doctors are hired for Haj duty from Muslim countries every year in order to benefit from clinical experiences in these countries. The medical contingent will be assisted by 2,000 administrative personnel, he added.

Zafar said four emergency centers inside the Grand Mosque have been upgraded and equipped with up to date medical equipment and that a fifth one was opened outside the Haram.

“These centers will provide emergency services and will refer critical cases to the nearby Ajyad General Hospital or to other hospitals in Makkah,” he said.

Al-Manie confirmed that rigorous steps have been taken to implement the preventive health care program for the pilgrims. The instructions of the World Health Organization are strictly followed at all entry points to prevent carriers of infectious diseases from entering.

“The program includes measures for early detection of any pilgrim developing symptoms of infectious diseases,” said Al-Manie.

Besides these preventive steps, health officials are keeping a constant watch on outbreaks of infectious diseases in different parts of the world. The ministry issues appropriate instructions to pilgrims coming from such places. Trained health workers with advanced equipment to detect symptoms of such diseases are posted at all entry points.

“If any cases are detected they are put in quarantine and are given treatment. Moreover, uncompromising steps will be adopted to stop the disease from spreading,” the minister said.

“In view of the millions assembling at a limited space, the ministry has established seven hospitals and 74 health centers with the most advanced medical equipment and medicines, staffed by highly-qualified doctors and paramedics,” Al-Manie said.

He said the ministry’s plans to face emergency situations and first aid operations include the computer-aided projections of likely emergency situations and training teams to make the required rapid response to such situations.

Special medical teams with doctors, nurses and drivers will be kept ready for rapid response on the Jamrat Bridge, especially on the days of the stoning ritual.

— With input by Saeed Al-Khotani