Heads of Haj medical missions from all countries around the world have expressed their gratitude for the distinguishable services provided to their respective pilgrims. They commended the efforts exerted and health capabilities made available by the Saudi ministry of health at a time of high international concern over the possible spreading of H1N1 among the pilgrims and the consequent transfer of the disease to their countries when the pilgrims return.
Among those is the head of the UAE medical mission Dr. Abdul Kareem Al-Zarooni, who valued the strict precautionary and preventive measures made by the Kingdom, emphasizing that those measures were effective in curbing the outbreaks of contagious and epidemic diseases among the pilgrims at a time when the whole world had been dominated by concern over a possible outbreak of H1N1 among the pilgrims.
He said the success of the Kingdom in controlling H1N1 and other contagious diseases, in addition to the high quality health services provided to the pilgrims, are added to the long list of achievements attained by the Kingdom in the field of Haj medical services.
The head of the Malaysian medical mission Dr. Ahmed Fawzi Yousef raised his gratitude to the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques over the facilities provided by the Kingdom to the pilgrims attending from all over the world. He appreciated the cooperation of and assistance offered by the Saudi ministry of health towards the Malaysian pilgrims who were in need of medical care.
He said the health utilities built by the Saudi health authorities in Makkah Al-Mukarramah, Al-Madeenah Al-Munawarah, and Jeddah had benefited the Malaysian pilgrims in the past as well as this year.
"The unique health facilities provided by the hospitals of the sacred shrines, especially Arafat hospital, Mina Al-Wadi hospital, and the other hospitals established in the sacred areas, have provided our mission the opportunity to work together with the Saudi authorities for offering assistance to needy pilgrims", he said.
The head of the Singaporean medical mission Dr. Iskandar Idrees said the Singaporean medical mission had been offered the opportunity of visiting the health utilities in Arafat and Mina. "We were impressed by the equipment available as well as the highly qualified medical staff", he said. "We have noticed that the health utilities had increased in number and are built in easily attainable locations", he added.
The head of the medical mission for European Muslims Dr. Mohammed Al Dameer said the European pilgrims were met with great care this year. He especially praised the role of the Directorate of Health Affairs in the Sacred Capital, which enabled them to open a clinic at the mission headquarters.
He said the meetings they made with the Directorate of Health Affairs in the Sacred Capital prior to the Haj rituals had been of great use due to the valuable directives that helped them provide the best health care to their patients. "We did not hesitate in sending emergencies to government hospitals, which in their turn provided the best assistance", he said.