Plans are being made by the Ministry of Health to set up the National Center for Prevention and Disease Control (NCPDC) in accordance with the decision taken by the Council of Ministers on Monday, Health Minister Abdullah Al-Rabeeah announced here yesterday.

Thanking the Council of Ministers and Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah for consenting to the decision to establish such a center, the minister said that the NCPCD will function on the lines of the Atlanta-based Center for Disease Control and would also follow the guidelines of similar bodies that operate in Europe.

CDC is the United States’ health protection agency, working 24/7 to protect America from health and safety threats, both foreign and domestic.

He explained that the NCPDC, which would function under the aegis of the Ministry of Health, would play a vital role in the fight against diseases and implement an effective surveillance program.

Al-Rabeeah said the proposed center would curb the spread of infectious and noncommunicable diseases within the country. He added that the ministry has been making efforts to develop health services and raise the level of performance in health facilities to offer the best health care services to patients according to the vision of the country’s leadership.

He said that the center would conduct research on diseases that are endemic to Saudi Arabia and also carry out scientific experiments to prevent and control both infectious and noncommunicable diseases. The center is also expected to monitor the outbreak of epidemics and advise the nation of the suitable steps for early prevention.

According to an official from the Health Ministry, the Kingdom’s major concern is the diseases that are imported into the Kingdom through pilgrims during Haj and Umrah seasons.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs dispatches circulars to all its embassies abroad indicating the quarantine requirements in the respective countries for the issuance of the pilgrim visa, prior to the commencement of the Umrah and Haj seasons, based on the Health Ministry’s recommendations.

Last year, the Kingdom focused on diseases such as yellow fever, meningitis, seasonal influenza, polio and food poisoning. Stipulated vaccines should be given 10 days before the date of departure to the holy cities of Makkah and Madinah. In addition, the ships and aircraft carrying pilgrims have been advised to produce a certificate that the carriers are free of mosquitoes.