RIYADH: Because of expected high temperatures during Haj, the Ministry of Health has installed 208 additional fans in Makkah and its holy sites for better ventilation and to relieve Haj pilgrims from the scorching summer heat.
The ministry has plans for dealing with heat exhaustion and sunstroke among pilgrims. This year’s Haj is expected to see high temperatures and the ministry has equipped a number of its facilities in Makkah and Madinah to handle heat exhaustion and sunstroke by providing proper ventilation through water sprinkling fans which reduce high temperatures.
An official said that 79 new beds have been added, bringing the total number to 216 to treat patients at the Al-Ansar Hospital in Madinah.
He said there were four hospitals each in Arafat and Mina. In addition to these, there are 80 primary health care centers in Arafat, Mina and Muzdalifah, which will receive pilgrims during Haj.
Last year, the ministry updated its facilities at these centers and they are now ready to serve pilgrims during the latter part of the Haj season. The centers include 28 in Mina, 46 in Arafat and six in Muzdalifa.
Health officials have also been assigned to 15 ports of entry for land, sea and air. They will monitor health conditions of pilgrims. “They are expected to take preventive and curative measures to keep infections under control,” the official said.
He said that health officials at the ports of entry will ensure that pilgrims have had vaccinations before arriving. “If they have not been vaccinated, doses will be given at the ports” the official said.
Health care workers will report any developments to the Central Command Committee on a 24-hour basis. All health officials who serve pilgrims will wear face masks during their interactions with pilgrims.
According to the spokesman, the functions of the Haj committees are interlinked through an electronic network to ensure integrated health care services.
The ministry recruits more than 22,000 people from various medical, technical and administrative categories for the Haj season every year. Officials also include some 400 medics in rare medical discipline, including intensive care and resuscitation, as well as specialists in intensive care nursing and other emergencies.
As part of an awareness campaign, officials will urge pilgrims to focus on personal hygiene, and hygienic cooking, storing, transporting and serving methods which are important to avoid diarrhea and vomiting, food poisoning, dysentery, typhoid and cholera. Hands should be washed before eating. Disposable shaving kits should be used.
Wearing masks made of cloth during the performance of various Haj rituals will be very useful in preventing respiratory infections such as colds, coughs, sore throats and pneumonia.
Pilgrims with diabetes, high blood pressure, heart disease, asthma, arthritis, migraine, epilepsy, skin diseases, psychiatric illnesses and gastric ulcer should have medications for appropriate treatment.
The ministry has plans for dealing with heat exhaustion and sunstroke among pilgrims. This year’s Haj is expected to see high temperatures and the ministry has equipped a number of its facilities in Makkah and Madinah to handle heat exhaustion and sunstroke by providing proper ventilation through water sprinkling fans which reduce high temperatures.
An official said that 79 new beds have been added, bringing the total number to 216 to treat patients at the Al-Ansar Hospital in Madinah.
He said there were four hospitals each in Arafat and Mina. In addition to these, there are 80 primary health care centers in Arafat, Mina and Muzdalifah, which will receive pilgrims during Haj.
Last year, the ministry updated its facilities at these centers and they are now ready to serve pilgrims during the latter part of the Haj season. The centers include 28 in Mina, 46 in Arafat and six in Muzdalifa.
Health officials have also been assigned to 15 ports of entry for land, sea and air. They will monitor health conditions of pilgrims. “They are expected to take preventive and curative measures to keep infections under control,” the official said.
He said that health officials at the ports of entry will ensure that pilgrims have had vaccinations before arriving. “If they have not been vaccinated, doses will be given at the ports” the official said.
Health care workers will report any developments to the Central Command Committee on a 24-hour basis. All health officials who serve pilgrims will wear face masks during their interactions with pilgrims.
According to the spokesman, the functions of the Haj committees are interlinked through an electronic network to ensure integrated health care services.
The ministry recruits more than 22,000 people from various medical, technical and administrative categories for the Haj season every year. Officials also include some 400 medics in rare medical discipline, including intensive care and resuscitation, as well as specialists in intensive care nursing and other emergencies.
As part of an awareness campaign, officials will urge pilgrims to focus on personal hygiene, and hygienic cooking, storing, transporting and serving methods which are important to avoid diarrhea and vomiting, food poisoning, dysentery, typhoid and cholera. Hands should be washed before eating. Disposable shaving kits should be used.
Wearing masks made of cloth during the performance of various Haj rituals will be very useful in preventing respiratory infections such as colds, coughs, sore throats and pneumonia.
Pilgrims with diabetes, high blood pressure, heart disease, asthma, arthritis, migraine, epilepsy, skin diseases, psychiatric illnesses and gastric ulcer should have medications for appropriate treatment.
