RIYADH: The Ministry of Health is launching from today a phone-in service to provide Haj pilgrims with instant health advice.
The service — “Sihha Zuyuf Al-Rahman” (Health for the Guests of Allah) — will be formally launched in the presence of senior health officials at the ministry’s call center in Riyadh.
The three-week program will be initially limited to journalists for a week to enable them to raise awareness about the services the Ministry of Health provides to local and foreign pilgrims. The service will, after that, be open to pilgrims. “The service will be available through toll free number 800 249 4444 which will greet the caller with ‘Allahumma Labaik’ and subsequently divert his or her call to a medical officer. The service will be in Arabic and will be available from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. until Dec. 3,” said Amal Moawiya Abu Al-Jedaie, the official heading the project. “We have a team of experts to instantly reply to callers seeking medical advice during their pilgrimage,” she said. The team includes consultants, cardiologists, specialists, pharmacists and dentists. The program will be handled by a group of Saudi women who work at the ministry and its hospitals in Riyadh.
“All calls will be treated with utmost confidentiality,” Amal said, adding that men suffering from chronic ailments such as diabetes and hypertension are encouraged to ask questions about their medicine and how they should use insulin during the pilgrimage. “Women can inquire about vaccine and matters concerning their menstrual cycle and how to prevent that during the pilgrimage,” she added.
Overseeing the program is Dr. Khalid Al-Mirghlani, general supervisor for the Communications and Health Awareness Campaign at the Ministry of Health.
“We have a team of women consultants to handle women callers,” said Al-Mirghlani. “The ministry is implementing a series of health education programs to prevent the spread of infectious diseases among pilgrims,” he said.
