The Director General of MOH Emergency and Field Medicine, Dr. Tarik Al-Arnous, has affirmed that the Ministry is currently carrying out a comprehensive plan centered on emergency and field medicine, through 95 highly equipped ambulances, functioning as mobile intensive care units, to address emergency cases on place.
In a press conference held today, Dhul-Hijjah 7th, 1433H, at Mina Emergency Hospital, Dr. Al-Arnous expressed his satisfaction about the readiness of health facilities for the provision of best-quality health services. He pointed out that the ambulances dedicated for emergency cases are to be placed, on Dhul-Hijjah 9th (Arafah Day), around Al-Rahmah Mountain, Namirah Mosque and the Holy Sites Train, so as to instantly address emergency cases among pilgrims. All such cases receive treatment on place, unless it's necessary to refer the case to a hospital.
“Within the framework of the MOH plans aimed to provide pilgrims,” Al-Arnous said, “the Ministry of Health has shown keen interest in putting forward a number of plans and programs, including plans for how to deal with emergency cases in the presence of extraordinarily large agglomeration of pilgrims in one time and such limited a place. This requires us to be as extraordinarily ready. And it was for this reason that the Ministry of Health has participated with all relevant authorities to setting a comprehensive Hajj plan.”
“The Ministry will continue to incur its responsibility towards pilgrims,” Al-Arnous added. “And in this context, it is concerned about providing best-quality field medical services for pilgrims, and transport patients with critical cases to hospitals, through an integrated fleet of ambulances. 80 big, highly-equipped ambulances (dubbed: "Sanad") have been dedicated for moving patients among the health Holy Sites' health facilities in Makkah and Madinah, in addition to 55 ambulances supporting the Holy Sites' health facilities, and 25 staffed ambulances serving at Madinah Health Affairs. That's to be added to many small ambulances, to benefit from their small size to move smoothly and get to all places, health facilities, and the trail from Arafat to Mina, passing through Muzdalifah. This will help treat emergency cases on place, or transporting them to hospitals when need be.”
According to Dr. Al-Arnous, the Ministry has provided, also, alarm and wireless communication devices to facilitate communication and immediately direct ambulances to the various locations through a command and control room at Al-Me'aisam Emergency Complex. Besides, ambulances of Makkah and Baha are fully prepared to participate whenever an emergency takes place.
He went on to say, “The Ministry of Health has reviewed the emergency plans of health facilities, in concordance with the status of each of these facilities, in coordination with the competent authorities and officers. Workers have been trained on emergency plans, both inside and outside health facilities, as well as conducting rehearsals on how to address disasters, in cooperation with the relevant authorities, and providing safety requirements at health facilities. The Ministry has also paid close attention to securing the emergency exits of all hospitals, and putting emergency signboards at entrances, as well as providing fire extinguishers and training workers on using them.
He further expounded that the Ministry is keen to harness all the available means to address diseased cases necessary to be taken to the region's hospitals or specialist hospitals, making use of the medical evacuation aircrafts. And in order for such tasks to be accomplished, the Ministry has established airstrips at Hiraa Hospital, Al-Noor Hospital, Arafat Hospital, Mina Emergency Hospital and King Abdullah Medical City (Makkah). That's to be added to benefitting from the airstrip of the Saudi Red Crescent Authority in Arafat, with the aim to move critical cases, by means of medical evacuation, to Makkah's hospitals, or any other hospital throughout the Kingdom.
Dr. Al-Arnous explained that the Ministry, besides, takes part in the implementation of the emergency plan at the Jamarat Bridge, and the roads leading to it. Field medical teams are waiting there, fully ready, in addition to big ambulances provided by the Red Crescent Authority to be used when need be.
Al-Arnous said that, within the framework of the plans meant to serve pilgrims, services are provided through 17 health centers overlooking Al-Jamaraat Bridge on the various floors after having been prepared and staffed. This is in order to work as emergency centers dealing with the emergency cases along the Bridge and providing the ambulatory services for the Hajj performers.
Speaking of flocking pilgrims to Arafat, Dr. Al-Arnous pointed out that the Ministry is carrying out a plan through which the health status will be monitored, in terms of pilgrims' movement, medical services provided to them, and the places where they tend to appear. This is to be carried out through field medical teams, small ambulances (used for moving patients), meanwhile placing particular emphasis on the Holy Site in Muzdalifah, considering the extraordinarily large agglomerations in this area (between Arafat and Mina, passing through Muzdalifah).
Concluding his statement, Dr. Al-Arnous was quoted as saying, “The Ministry, through its field medical teams, is keen to concentrate on Al-Rahmah Mountain, for fear of the incidence of falling cases. Also, instant medical services are provided by field medical teams (physicians, nurses and technicians), thus providing ambulatory services for patients on site, in addition to moving the injured to the medical evacuation area, in coordination with the Saudi Red Crescent Authority.