Saudi Health Ministry ready to ensure disease-free Hajj

Saudi Health Ministry ready to ensure disease-free Hajj
A Muslim pilgrim takes his luggage after inspection at the departure hall of Baghdad’s International airport on May 30, 2023, before leaving for the annual Hajj pilgrimage to Makkah. (AFP)
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Updated 31 May 2023
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Saudi Health Ministry ready to ensure disease-free Hajj

Saudi Health Ministry ready to ensure disease-free Hajj
  • Integrated system of health control centers is being set up at the ports of entry, which will be completed before the beginning of the Hajj season
  • Health ministry will distribute leaflets and broadcast awareness programs on screens in the halls in languages such as Urdu, French and English

JEDDAH: The health of incoming pilgrims will be monitored at 14 ports of entry to the Kingdom via land, sea, and air during this Hajj season.

The Ministry of Health said that it has set a number of health requirements to prevent diseases coming into the country, maintain health security and provide preventive and curative services during the Hajj season.

An integrated system of health control centers is being set up at the ports of entry, which will be completed before the beginning of the Hajj season.

The ministry is keen to raise health awareness for pilgrims and their families upon their arrival in the Kingdom with awareness initiatives. It will distribute leaflets and broadcast awareness programs on screens in the halls in languages such as Urdu, French and English, among others.

Officials said that entry point health services were the first line of defense for Hajj. Health experts will also take precautionary measures in accordance with global developments and international health regulations that apply to those coming to Hajj, their luggage and transport.

Medical services will be provided at Jeddah Islamic Port, King Abdulaziz International Airport in Jeddah, Prince Mohammed bin Abdulaziz International Airport in Madinah, Prince Abdul Mohsin bin Abdulaziz Airport in Yanbu, Taif International Airport, Al-Batha Port, Empty Quarter Port, Salwa Port, King Fahd Causeway, Al-Raqa’i Port, Jdeidet Arar Port, Al-Haditha Port, Halat Ammar Port, and Al-Wadiah Port.

The centers will be staffed at all times, stocked with medical supplies such as vaccines and equipped with isolation rooms and ambulances to transport sick cases to hospital.

Food brought in by pilgrims will also be inspected by the Saudi Food and Drug Authority and the Customs Authority.

The Health Ministry will record the number of incomers, and report preventive measures applied in their countries of origin and at the ports through the Health Electronic Surveillance Network.

The ministry also provides other preventive services including vaccines for the target countries and preventive treatment for those coming from the African meningitis belt.

Officials at the ministry will coordinate with international organizations such as the World Health Organization and the International Civil Aviation Organization, and ensure that all pilgrims receive the necessary immunizations before traveling.


OIC conference stresses building ‘resilient’ food systems

OIC conference stresses building ‘resilient’ food systems
Updated 4 sec ago
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OIC conference stresses building ‘resilient’ food systems

OIC conference stresses building ‘resilient’ food systems
  • The conference recognized the need to establish the necessary financial infrastructure and legal frameworks to improve financial inclusion for farmers
  • The final statement emphasized the significance of cooperation and coordination with relevant OIC institutions

RIYADH: The Ninth Ministerial Conference of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation on Food Security and Agricultural Development emphasized the importance of enhancing cooperation within the OIC framework in the food and agricultural sector.
The goal is to build more resilient food systems and achieve sustainable development objectives through knowledge exchange and the implementation of best practices. This will enhance food security and productivity.
Held in Doha, Qatar, from Oct. 1-2 under the theme “Towards Achieving the Sustainable Development Goals 2030 in the OIC Member States,” the conference recognized the need to establish the necessary financial infrastructure and legal frameworks to improve financial inclusion for farmers.
The conference also highlighted the importance of supporting farmers by providing access to financial products and services, including Islamic finance models that can enhance economic resilience and increase production and income.
The final statement of the conference emphasized the significance of cooperation and coordination with relevant OIC institutions in conducting a study and developing a business model and cooperation framework for contract farming. Additionally, the conference aimed to assess the needs and capabilities of member states in this area. The study and business model will be presented for consideration and decision in the next session of the conference.
The participants of the conference expressed their appreciation to Qatar for hosting the event and acknowledged its role in supporting efforts to enhance food security in OIC member states.
Meanwhile, OIC Secretary-General Hissein Brahim Taha addressed the 6th session of the General Assembly of the Islamic Organization for Food Security in Doha on Tuesday.
Taha, through a statement delivered on his behalf by the assistant secretary-general for economic affairs, Ahmed Kawesa Sengendo, called for discussions on how the IOFS, as an OIC specialized organ, can support small farmers in OIC countries. The aim is to increase local food production, meet local and regional food demands, develop markets and reduce food wastage.
Taha highlighted that small farmers, constituting 76 percent of total farmers in OIC countries, often employ traditional labor-intensive methods, resulting in low productivity.
He stressed the need for concrete action and effective programs and projects at national, regional and international levels to address the challenges posed by food insecurity in OIC countries.
Taha emphasized the importance of the IOFS’s role in implementing OIC projects and programs related to agriculture, rural development and food security. He called for a tangible focus on agricultural projects to promote agricultural growth.
The OIC chief also underscored the significance of fostering cooperation and synergy between member states, particularly in capacity-building, cooperative research programs and efficient resource management, to enhance agricultural productivity. Additionally, he highlighted the importance of encouraging technological innovation and implementing policies that promote capacity development and support investment.


Nigeria, Saudi Arabia maintain fruitful bilateral coordination: Envoy

Nigeria, Saudi Arabia maintain fruitful bilateral coordination: Envoy
Updated 5 min 42 sec ago
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Nigeria, Saudi Arabia maintain fruitful bilateral coordination: Envoy

Nigeria, Saudi Arabia maintain fruitful bilateral coordination: Envoy
  • Ambassador Yahaya Lawal: Our bilateral cooperation, which was initially Hajj-centric, has witnessed diversification to cover a number of mutually beneficial areas
  • Yahaya Lawal: We share similar aspirations as members of OPEC+ for a stable oil market

RIYADH: Nigeria and Saudi Arabia have maintained a fruitful mechanism of bilateral consultations and coordination between them since the establishment of formal diplomatic relations in 1961, according to Nigerian ambassador to Saudi Arabia, Yahaya Lawal.

Speaking at Nigeria’s 63rd independence day anniversary function in Riyadh, the envoy on Monday said: “Last week we joined Saudi brothers and sisters in commemorating their 93rd National Day. We wish them further progress in their remarkable journey toward a prosperous future. Our heartfelt appreciation goes to King Salman and Crown Prince Mohammad bin Salman for sustained endeavours in consolidating and advancing the age-long historical and cordial relations binding our two brotherly countries.”

After independence on Oct. 1, 1960, Nigeria established formal diplomatic relations with Saudi Arabia in 1961.

“I am happy to inform you that for the past six decades, our bilateral cooperation, which was initially Hajj-centric, has witnessed diversification to cover a number of mutually beneficial areas. I am pleased to note that a large number of our compatriots and professionals, including valued Nigerian football players, are actively working and contributing silently to the strengthening of these relations in various fields. This is expected to receive an additional boost when more than a dozen agreements and MoUs currently under negotiation within the framework of the Nigeria-Saudi Joint Commission are concluded,” the envoy said.

“It is our firm belief that these agreements, when finalized and implemented, would contribute in unlocking the existing huge potentials in the relationship and elevate our cooperation to a strategic level,” Lawal said.

“As members of several international organizations such as the UN, the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries, the International Energy Forum, the G77, the Organization of Islamic Cooperation, the Islamic Development Bank, the Digital Cooperation Organization and the Saudi-led Islamic Military Counter Terrorism Coalition, our two nations have effectively used these and other platforms for close interaction and coordination,” he said.

“We share similar aspirations as members of OPEC+ for a stable oil market. We also subscribe to the promotion of South-South cooperation for enhancing trade, investment and sustainable economic development.”

Nigeria, like the Kingdom under its “Vision 2030,” was diversifying its economy away from oil dependence by focussing on agriculture, mining, the digital economy and tourism to promote sustainable development, he said.

“Our country is also cleansing and liberalizing the business environment to attract more domestic and Foreign Direct Investments. We have introduced in this regard a number of programs, which include a new National Digital Economic Policy and Strategy, the establishment of Special Agro Industrial Processing Zones, the Agriculture for Food and Jobs Programme and the Petroleum Industry Act, which seeks to transform and open up the oil and gas sector,” he said.

“Our country has also put in place sufficient incentives to attract Foreign Direct Investments. These include a tax holiday for up to five years on agriculture and solid minerals, easy company registration within 24 hours, pioneer status incentives of up to three years, easy repatriation of profits, easy access to credit facility, low import duties, and equal treatment of local and foreign companies,” he said.

The envoy also thanked Saudi Arabia for sending a ministerial delegation to Abuja to participate in the investiture ceremony of the new cabinet. The delegation held fruitful bilateral talks with Nigerian President Bola Tinubu.

The president reaffirmed Nigeria’s full backing for the Kingdom to host Expo 2030 in Riyadh and wished it success at the election coming up in December in Paris.

As regional leaders, Nigeria and Saudi Arabia share similar visions for peace in their respective environment.

“In this regard, we thank the Kingdom for its peace endeavours in Sudan. We are also thankful for the annual scholarship awards to Nigerians to study in Saudi universities, and wish to acknowledge with gratitude the numerous humanitarian interventions in Nigeria by the Kingdom through the King Salman Humanitarian Aid and Relief Center,” he said.

He also commended the Kingdom for its initiative to host the Saudi-Africa and Arab-Africa summits in Riyadh and for its faith in the continent.

“It is our hope that the upcoming historic fora would lay the foundation for a new era of partnership between the Kingdom and Africa, especially with the coming into force of the Africa Continental Free Trade Area. The World Bank estimates that the AfCFTA will increase Africa’s income by $450 billion by 2035 and raise intra-African exports by more than 81 percent.”

This single market trade agreement will enable the African economy to reach the 29 trillion dollar mark by 2050, according to the UN Economic Commission for Africa.

The function was attended by Riyadh Deputy Gov. Prince Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Abdulaziz.


Air quality in Kingdom monitored by 240 stations

Air quality in Kingdom monitored by 240 stations
Updated 03 October 2023
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Air quality in Kingdom monitored by 240 stations

Air quality in Kingdom monitored by 240 stations
  • Stations aim to inform the public about the quality of air in their surroundings, allowing them to take necessary precautions when needed
  • National Center for Environmental Compliance takes immediate action as soon as the stations detect high levels of air pollution

RIYADH: The National Center for Environmental Compliance has installed 240 monitoring stations across various regions in the Kingdom in an effort to provide real-time information on air quality. The stations collect data on 22 different air components and update indicators every five minutes.

The stations aim to inform the public about the quality of air in their surroundings, allowing them to take necessary precautions when needed, the Saudi Press Agency reported on Tuesday.

Ali Al-Qarni, the project supervisor at the center, said that the distribution of the sites had taken into account population density and the presence of industrial cities and facilities with potential environmental impact.

The center takes immediate action as soon as the stations detect high levels of air pollution, in accordance with the executive regulations of the environmental system, Al-Qarni added.

He said: “We’ve created a website for the public that maps the locations of air monitoring stations in all regions of the Kingdom.

“We will soon launch an application on mobile phones to keep the public updated with the findings of the stations.”

Some of the monitoring stations are mobile and can be relocated to areas with higher demand, Al-Qarni said.

He added that industrial cities will also receive periodic reports to ensure the maintenance of air quality.


King, crown prince attend Saudi Cabinet meeting

King, crown prince attend Saudi Cabinet meeting
Updated 03 October 2023
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King, crown prince attend Saudi Cabinet meeting

King, crown prince attend Saudi Cabinet meeting

RIYADH: King Salman and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman on Tuesday attended the Saudi Cabinet’s weekly meeting.

Ministers discussed the outcomes of recent talks between senior officials from the Kingdom and their foreign counterparts and reviewed the country’s budget for the fiscal year 2024.

Cabinet members also looked at labor market indicators in the second quarter of this year. Figures showed a drop in the unemployment rate on the same period last year, from 9.7 percent to 8.3 percent.

The fall in the number of jobless Saudis was attributed to initiatives and programs related to Vision 2030.


Saudi Arabia border guards thwart attempt to smuggle 130kg of qat

Saudi Arabia border guards thwart attempt to smuggle 130kg of qat
Updated 03 October 2023
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Saudi Arabia border guards thwart attempt to smuggle 130kg of qat

Saudi Arabia border guards thwart attempt to smuggle 130kg of qat

RIYADH: Saudi Arabia’s border guards in the Jazan region have foiled an attempt to smuggle 130 kg of the narcotic qat into the Kingdom, the Saudi Press Agency reported on Tuesday.

Meanwhile, agents from the General Directorate of Narcotics Control arrested two Saudi Arabia nationals in Jazan for attempting to sell hashish, methamphetamine, and pills subject to medical regulations.

They were referred to the Kingdom’s Public Prosecution authority.