JEDDAH, 30 April 2003 — On instructions from Crown Prince Abdullah, deputy premier and commander of the National Guard, National Guard hospitals in Riyadh, Jeddah and Al-Ahsa have set aside 100 beds for the treatment of Iraqi patients wounded in the US-led war.
According to Dr. Fahd ibn Abdullah Al-Abdul Jabbar, executive director of health affairs at the National Guard, the King Abdul Aziz Medical City in Jeddah and the King Abdul Aziz Hospital in Al-Ahsa will allocate 30 beds each to the Iraqis.
Speaking to Al-Riyadh Arabic newspaper, he said the Fahda bint Al-Aasi ibn Shuraim Center for Intensive Care and Burns at the King Abdul Aziz Medical City will allocate 10 beds to the Iraqi program.
The crown prince earlier urged Saudi authorities to accept as many Iraqi patients as possible in a major relief program launched by the government to alleviate the suffering of the Iraqi people.
Abdul Jabbar said his organization has allocated SR20 million to supply medical equipment needed by the Iraqis.
The Kingdom has already sent a field hospital to Baghdad with 35 Saudi doctors and over 150 paramedical staff who will provide a variety of health services. The hospital has 100 beds, of which 20 have been set aside for intensive care.
“The hospital will provide medical treatment and first-aid services through its clinics,” said Maj. Gen. Kitab Al-Otaibi, director of medical services at the Defense and Aviation Ministry.
