RIYADH: The Health Ministry has directed all the hospitals in Asir region to remain on emergency alert and give the best services those injured in Thursday’s blast.

Health Ministry spokesman Khaled Al-Mirghalani told Arab News that on the instructions of Minister of Health Khalid Al-Falih, the hospital staff were alerted and they are doing their best to serve the patients in the best possible manner.

Saeed Al-Nugair, director of health affairs in the Kingdom, said the patients among the bomb victims are in various wards depending on their individual health conditions. “Two people died on admission and several others are in intensive care units.”

According to Dr. Ibrahim Al-Hufli, medical director for health affairs in the region, patients are treated on a priority basis.

It was revealed that so far 1,500 units of blood from the blood bank have been used for these patients. Volunteers from the region are queuing up to donate blood for these donors, he said, adding that the hospital would welcome blood donors who have rare blood types.

Last week, a special team of officials from the Ministry of Health, led by Deputy Minister Hamad bin Mohammed Aldhwilaa visited hospitals in the southern border area to ensure that services were available to serve the patients in the Asir, Jazan and Najran regions.

Al-Mirghalani said the visit was to ensure that the services and medical equipment in various government hospitals in the region were in top condition to serve patients in the southern region.

There are some 60 hospitals in the Asir, Najran and Jazan regions with 6,500 beds, he said, adding that all these facilities are equipped with state-of-the art equipment.

The deputy minister visited outpatient and emergency departments to view injury and accident services, blood banks and surgical theaters, and also held discussions with doctors.

The minister was briefed by Director General of Health Affairs in Najran Ahmed Al-Sahli.

In Jazan, he said the team visited the King Fahd Hospital and spoke to the patients to ensure the services provided are satisfactory.

At the conclusion of the tour, which ended late at night, the deputy minister said his visit was in line with the vision of Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman who is keen on providing the best medical services to patients in the region. He added that there are some 180 doctors specialized in various disciplines who have been posted at Najran.