MOH News

Mass Gathering Medicine Conference Will Be Inaugurated on Saturday under the Auspices of King Abdullah Bin Abdulaziz
20 September 2013
On behalf of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz, May Allah protect him, His Excellency the Minister of Health, Dr. Abdullah bin Abdulaziz Al-Rabeeah, is to inaugurate tomorrow (Saturday) 15/11/1434H (corresponding to 21/09/2013), the events of the 2nd International Conference for Mass Gathering Medicine which will be organized by the Ministry of Health (MOH) at the Ritz-Carlton Hotel in Riyadh.
 
It is worth mentioning that the Conference is held under the auspices of King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz, and lasts for three days.
 
Dr. Al-Rabeeah expressed his deep thanks and gratitude to King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz for patronage of this Conference, stressing that such patronage shows the King's continuous interest to upgrade the health sector.
 
Within the same vein, Dr. Al-Rabeeah has valued the generous support paid by the Government of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques to the health services, highlighting the Government's keenness to provide health care for citizens, and to maintain their health and safety.
 
Moreover, Dr. Al-Rabeeah has given a warm welcome to all participants, including the honorable Ministers, heads of delegations, as well as the global experts and consultants, delivering thanks to all of them for accepting the invitation to participate in this important Conference.
 
Finally, Dr. Al-Rabeeah prayed for Almighty Allah to reach applicable scientific and practical recommendations in the Conference; in an endeavor to support the national and international efforts in the field of Mass Gathering Medicine, protect people from diseases and epidemics, and maintain their health and safety, Allah willing.
 
For his part, His Excellency the Vice Minister for Health Affairs, Dr. Mansour bin Nasser Al-Howasi, affirmed that the patronage of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques for the Conference comes as a part of the unlimited support paid by the Government to the health services with the aim of providing health care for the citizens, and improving the health services, in order to be consistent with the trend adopted by the Ministry of Health which targets serving patients and gaining their satisfaction.
 
Within the same vein, Dr. Al-Howasi pointed out that the Conference comes within the framework of the ongoing efforts undertaken by the MOH to face any updates or emergency cases that may occur, Allah forbid, in the gatherings, including the season Hajj and Umrah which is thronged by millions of people at one time and one place. Finally, Dr. Al-Howasi highlighted that the MOH seeks to reach results to protect the Saudi society and the international community as a whole.
 
In the same context, His Excellency the Vice Minister for Planning and Development, Dr. Mohamed bin Hamzah Khushaim, has lauded the patronage of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz, May Allah support him, for the Conference, saying that such patronage highlights the unlimited care and interest to adopt the projects and programs which serve patients within the framework of the National Project for Integrated and Comprehensive Health Care prepared by the MOH on a scientific and systematic basis, taking into consideration the needs of citizens, and patients.
 
Meanwhile, Dr. Khushaim affirmed that the MOH's organization of this Conference comes out of the responsibility that lies on its shoulder, and upon the directives issued by King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz to provide the means of health care and maintain the health and safety of every Saudi citizen.
 
Finally, Dr. Khushaim concluded that international experts and specialists belonging to international organizations and western countries are to participate in the Conference, stressing that the Ministry's efforts witness an ongoing activity to develop its preventive and curative health programs.
 
The Deputy Minister for Public Health and Chairman of the Conference's Higher Committee, Dr. Ziad Memish, pointed out that the 2nd International Conference for Mass Gathering Medicine will focus during its sessions on the latest updates of the novel Coronavirus (MERS-Cov) as well as the best ways to confront and limit its spread, and the development of its therapies during the seasons of Hajj and Umrah. In addition, the Conference is to discuss the updates of the virus on the domestic and international levels, along with many other themes that enrich the goals of the Conference.
 
Within the same vein, Dr. Memish highlighted that the Saudi Commission for Health Specialties had approved 20 certified training hours for the Conference, stressing that registration will be free for all participants in the Conference.
 
Meanwhile, Dr. Memish underscored that the Conference draws its importance from the participation of 15 Health Ministers from the Cooperation Council for the Arab States of the Gulf (CCASG), as well as the Health Ministers of the USA, France, Cuba, Canada, Turkey, Malaysia, Pakistan, Indonesia and South Korea.
 
Also, Dr. Memish highlighted that the Conference is to be attended also by high-level organizations and global and regional institutions, with the participation of the Secretary-General of the League of Arab States (LAS), the CCASG Secretary-General, the Director-General of the World Health Organization (WHO), the Regional Director of the WHO's Office for the Eastern Mediterranean, members of the International Advisory Board of the Saudi Ministry of Health, and a number of experts and scientists from different countries all over the world.
 
Dr. Memish noted that the Conference aims to overview the scientific and practical experiments, which were previously handled in similar circumstances, in such a manner promoting effective health procedures that are taken to deal with the mass gatherings and crowds during seasons of Umrah and Hajj.
 
Within the same vein, Dr. Memish pointed out that the Conference is considered an opportunity to review the experience of the Kingdom in the Hajj season; describing it as a unique experience, as the Kingdom manages the affairs of more than two million pilgrims within a limited geographic and time scope, the matter making it as a leading example.
 
Furthermore, Dr. Memish added that the Conference is also an opportunity to take advantage of the international experts and specialists coming from the international organizations and the western countries, and to allow the exchange of experiences, contributing to the development of the health programs in this vital area.
 
Moreover, Dr. Memish highlighted that the MOH had created a website for the Conference via the following link; http://www.gcmgm.com, adding that the website includes a welcome speech for the participants and guests of the Conference and its Scientific and Practical Program; along with a list of the names of speakers and the organizing committees. The Conference's website includes also scientific articles, as well as video clips that highlight the importance of Mass Gathering Medicine, and all the news related to the Conference.
 
The Conference attracts such international, regional and national importance for being held ahead of the Hajj season which witnesses the gathering of more than two million pilgrims all over the world within a limited geographic and time scope. Such importance may be also attributed to discussion of the novel Coronavirus (MERS-Cov) that constitutes a global threat after its outbreak in many countries over the world.
 
It worth mentioning that the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, May Allah protect him, had patronized the 1st International Conference that was organized in Jeddah over the period 15-17/11/1433H (corresponding to 23–25/10/2010). It was attended by more than 500 experts and 30 speakers and specialists from various countries around the world; that is to be added to experts from the WHO and Arab and Gulf organizations.
 
This Conference had recommended establishing an international reference body in the Saudi Arabia to be specialized in the health of mass gathering and crowds. In addition, this body will be responsible for the tasks of classification and definition of terms, functions and activities of mass gathering health, as well as spreading of its culture, programs and systems based on data as well as the considerable and certain research outputs.
 
 
 
 



Last Update : 25 September 2013 10:00 AM
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