His Excellency the Minister of Health, Dr. Abdullah Bin Abdulaziz Al-Rabeeah affirmed that the Ministry of Health (MOH) keeps, internally and externally, closely monitoring and following up the health situation, and that it has taken all the professional precautions with regard to all the land, air, and sea ports, as well as its permanent communication with all the international health organizations and bodies.
He pointed out that" the Hajj performers' health situation is highly reassuring, may Allah be praised, and no epidemiological diseases have been reported. Thus, we are optimistic that this year's Hajj season will be free of epidemics, Allah willing; for all the Hajj performers' health indicators and reports are auspicious, may all be praised."
This was during the Minister's presiding, on Tuesday morning, over the meeting of the fifth preparatory hajj committees, reviewing the work flow of the committees, and the preparations for implementing the MOH's plan of the Hajj season 1434h. Moreover, he has viewed reports of all the preparatory committees on the preparations, programs, and the simulated plans and experiments, to make sure of the readiness of the facilities and staff.
He went on to say that "the Ministry of Health (MOH) has recruited field medical teams tackling the emergency cases at once in the areas where the hajj performers are, through experts and consultants on all the relevant specialties; all of them are within the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. He has also made clear that the MOH has earmarked RS 10 million for the modern technological equipment in all the health facilities and the Holy Sites.
"Within the same vein, in continuation of the successes the MOH has made with regard to dealing with Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) and Swine Flu; it has harnessed all its capabilities, cumulative experience, and its permanent and emergency preventive, curative plans, conforming to the world and national standards, in tackling the novel Coronavirus: the Middle East respiratory syndrome Coronavirus (MERS-CoV). As such, since recognizing the virus, the Ministry of Health (MOH) has initiated constant channels with experts; within the Kingdom and outside and the world Health Organization (WHO); with the aim of recognizing this virus and taking a host of measures in order to prevent the virus spread in this year's hajj season. He has also reiterated his affirmation that the MOH does not prevent anyone from performing the hajj rites; however, it recommends that older people not go on hajj rites this year, especially those suffering from chronic diseases," he added.
In meantime, he has welcomed those participating in the second Mass-Gatherings Medicine World Conference, which is to be held on next Saturday in Riyadh; under the royal auspices of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, may Allah protect him. He has further made clear that the MOH's preparations for playing a host to this historic event have completed, adding that the main focus of the conference discussions is going to be on Coronavirus.
Similarly, he has pointed out that the Ministry of Health (MOH) has prepared 25 hospitals, distributed to Makkah 7 hospitals, Madinah 9 hospitals; the Holy Site of Mina 4 hospitals; the Holy Site of Arafat 4 hospitals; and finally, the King Abdullah Medical City. On the other hand, the aggregate clinical capacity of these hospitals is 5250 beds; of which there are 4200 for specialized sections, 500 beds for intensive care units, and 550 beds for emergency sections. Adding in that it has prepared 141 permanent and seasonal health centers in the hajj areas; of which there are 43 health centers in the Holy Capital, 80 health centers in the Holy Sites, 12 health centers in Madinah, as well as 17 emergency centers along The Jamarat Bridge; and the health centers withinAl Haram al-Sharif (Nobel Sanctuary).
He went on adding that the MOH has provided sixteen thousand blood units and its products of all various groups; in order to stock up the health facilities in the Holy Sites and the Holy Capital. It has also prepared the airstrips related to the MOH, according to the relevant specifications, in the following hospitals: the Hera General Hospital, Al-Noor Hospital, ArafatHospital, and Mina Emergency Hospital, as well as taking advantage of airstrips in transporting the critical cases. Furthermore, it has tasked as close as 22500 thousand health practitioners and officials of the MOH's staff to serve the hajj performers in Makkah, Madinah, and the Holy Sites, as well as providing the Emergency and Field Medicine Committeewith 50 small ambulances, with the aim of boosting up the field medicine services, having them rove the crowd places, and providing the medical services in the areas where the mass gatherings and hajj performers exist.