RIYADH: The Ministry Health Ministry advised pregnant mothers and patients suffering from chronic ailments to postpone the Haj pilgrimage for a subsequent occasion.
Dr. Nasreen Sherbini, health adviser on epidemic diseases, offered the advice yesterday to prospective local Haj pilgrims through the ministry’s phone-in-service conducted by its information department.
The phone-in-service began during the first week of Ramadan for the eighth consecutive year. The program conducted by the Information Center of the MOH is part of the ministry’s efforts in its awareness campaign among pilgrims to have a Haj without health problems.
The service, “Saha Ziyufur Ar Rahman,” or Health for the Guests of Allah, is available on toll-free number 800 249 4444 during the first three weeks of the holy month. The ministry officials also help pilgrims who need online advice on Haj matters through the ministry’s website and on the social networking site Twitter @ saudimoh.
Under the program, a team of experts gives instant replies to callers who seek medical advice during their pilgrimage to the holy cities. The medical team comprises consultants, cardiologists, medical specialists, pharmacists and dentists. The program is handled by a group of Saudi women who are working in the ministry and its city hospitals here.
Sherbini said that pregnant mothers and patients suffering from chronic illnesses or ailments need comfort and regular medical treatment, which would be difficult among the large crowd of pilgrims during the Haj season. Pilgrims were also advised to use disposable shaving razor and pay special attention to personal hygiene.
She also told pilgrims to avoid congestion during the pilgrimage and advised the pilgrims to wear face masks to prevent infection transmitted from cough, cold or droplets in areas such as Arafat, Jamaarat, Makkah and Madinah.
Stressing the need for vaccination, she also said that besides the regular vaccine against meningitis, pilgrims should take vaccine against hepatitis B. She also said pilgrims suffering from hypertension diabetes, cardiac and renal diseases should take their medicines on time.
Health Ministry spokesman Dr. Khalid Al Mirghalani repeated that vaccination against meningitis is mandatory on local as well as foreign pilgrims. Explaining the seriousness of meningitis, Mirghalani pointed out that it may spread during Haj season causing outbreaks especially because of pilgrims carrying the disease from endemic areas.
He added that congestion and overcrowding facilitates quick transmission of the disease. The vaccine is given to adults and children over two years of age and it is not administered on pregnant women.
On Monday, Health Minister Dr. Abdullah Al-Rabeeah said that the preparations for each Haj begins immediately following the previous Haj season.
“About 10.000 hospital beds have been prepared and about 22.000 employees, from various health sectors, have been assigned to take part in serving the guests of Allah (pilgrims),” the minister said.
“The Ministry of Health has harnessed its potentials and capabilities for serving pilgrims through the Ministry’s health facilities,” he added.
During this Haj season, there is some 25 hospitals have been designated to serve the pilgrims in the holy cities of Makkah and Madinah. They include, four hospitals in Arafat, four in Minah, seven in Makkah, nine in Madinah besides King Abdullah Medical City and other family hospitals. There is a total of 5,250 beds in all these facilities, the minister concluded .
Pregnant women, patients suffering from chronic ailments told to delay Haj
