JEDDAH, 4 February 2003 — As the thousands of Haj pilgrim groups start arriving in Saudi Arabia, the final preparations for the medical services are being completed.
Minister of Health Dr. Osama Shobokshi has inspected all the public medical facilities in Makkah and Madinah and given them his personal approval.
The annual plan for Haj in Madinah was put into action on Jan. 18. It includes the distribution of medical facilities and services in different areas, particularly those surrounding the Prophet’s Mosque.
Eleven medical centers were set up, four of them around the mosque. Three of these will be open 16 hours a day and one around the clock every day for the next two months.
The plan also focuses on providing services, especially immunizations against such diseases as meningitis, at all the entry and departure points — air, land, and sea — and along the major roads to Madinah and Makkah.
In Makkah, all medical facilities prepared for the Haj were finalized yesterday. There are 80 medical centers in Mina, Arafat and Muzdalifah, including five inside the Grand Mosque, along with 14 hospitals, seven of which are within the vicinity of the mosque. All are equipped with the latest health facilities.
According to the plan, more than 9,500 medical and technical personnel are on hand, with the cooperation of 600 medical students from eight colleges and 12 medical institutes from around the country, plus 115 specialist doctors and nurses from outside the Kingdom including the US, the UK and Malaysia.
Besides the fully equipped 80 regular ambulances, there will be 75 small ambulances with a doctor and nurse on board acting as a miniature mobile ICU around the clock to access crowded places and residences.
Some 8,000 units of blood of all types have been distributed to the hospitals and more are available at blood banks.
“The main goals of the plan is to protect the citizens from incoming diseases, safeguard the pilgrims from infectious diseases and to raise the level of health awareness among them,” Dr. Khalid Al-Marghalani, director of health media and public relations at the Ministry of Health, told Arab News.
The Saudi Red Crescent Society plays a major role in providing medical services during Haj. More than 100 medical units around Makkah, Madinah and other holy sites are ready along with 301 ambulances.
And 1,845 staff members, including administrators, paramedics, doctors, pharmacists, technicians, medical students, drivers, temporary employees and volunteers, are providing services.
“We have a comprehensive plan defining our medical services and centers in Makkah, the holy sites and along the roads,” Dr. Khaled Al-Hibshi, director of the Red Crescent Society in Makkah, told Arab News.
Al-Hibshi said that that health awareness would be raised directly in contact with the pilgrims and while aiding the injured or sick.
“Because of the winter season, the most common health problems we expect to encounter are those related to cold weather, such as respiratory inflammations,” Dr. Al-Hibshi explained.
There are also the usual problems of exhaustion, suffocation due to overcrowding, falls and slips.
Shobokshi says that he does not expect any cases of sunstroke, previously one of the most common problems during Haj.
Makkah Governor Prince Abdul Majeed, Madinah Governor Prince Muqrin and Dr. Shobokshi will all receive updates on the health situation daily.
