RIYADH: The Kingdom has ordered its overseas missions to strictly adhere to Ministry of Health stipulations when issuing Umrah and Haj visas.
“A circular has been dispatched to all the Saudi missions from the Foreign Ministry to adhere strictly to the stipulations made by the Ministry of Health when issuing Umrah and Haj visas,” a spokesman for the Ministry of Health told Arab News.
The spokesman, who was speaking after a Haj Preparations Committee meeting chaired by Dr. Ridah M. Khalil yesterday, added that visas would only be issued on production of vaccination certificates against diseases that are endemic in respective countries, such as meningitis, yellow fever and polio.
Vaccination against meningitis — a disease that can be passed on to other pilgrims who have not been immunized against the disease — is compulsory on all pilgrims. The vaccination, which is valid for three years, should be taken 10 days before the pilgrim’s departure to the holy cities of Makkah and Madinah.
Polio vaccination is a pre-requirement for children under 15 from African countries, Yemen, Nepal, India and Pakistan. Yellow fever is identified with Nigeria, Kenya, Congo, Bolivia, Ecuador and Colombia.
The ministry has also advised prospective pilgrims to take injections against seasonal influenza, an illness that can easily turn fatal for pilgrims who suffer from chronic illnesses such as diabetes and cardiac, renal and wheezing problems.
Pilgrims are also being strictly advised that only canned foods will be allowed entry into the Kingdom. Khalil said that the committee decided to purchase 20 fully equipped ambulances for use in the holy cities. “It was also decided to increase the number of employees at medical warehouses in the holy cities by 57,” he said.
Khalil said the meeting was part of early preparations by the government to ensure a smooth Haj.
He pointed out that every year, the Ministry of Health carries out an intensive campaign against infectious diseases, such as meningitis, cholera, yellow fever and viral fever. Besides this campaign, the government distributes more than 1.5 million pieces of literature in 16 languages to carry the health messages to pilgrims.
