RIYADH: The Ministry of Health said on Saturday its public health awareness program “Hello Ramadan Health” would focus on swine flu this year.
“Considering the volume of incidence in the Kingdom, we have decided to devote this program more to queries regarding the prevention and treatment of H1N1 in the Kingdom,” Health Ministry spokesman Khaled Al-Mirghalani told Arab News.
The ministry will deploy a team of specialized doctors to reply to queries from the toll-free hotline 800-249-4444 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. during the Saturday-Wednesday working week.
Last year, the call center was inundated with inquiries from all parts of the Kingdom, with women showing more interest than men. Most of the questions last year were related to diabetes, hypertension and obesity. Other common queries include questions about medication and fasting.
The Ministry of Health urges all pilgrims to focus on health safety, such as being careful when consuming street food and to be mindful of hygiene, especially in crowded pilgrim accommodations.
This year the ministry is recommending the use of surgical facemasks in crowds to prevent the spread of the H1N1 virus.
