The Assistant Deputy Minister of Health for Supportive Medical Services, and supervisor of laboratories, nursing and nutrition during Hajj, Dr. Munirah bent Hemdan al-Esseim, has affirmed that all the foods provided for pilgrims and health workers at the Holy Sites are secure. “Thank God, no food poisoning cases have been detected so far,” she said.
The nursing, laboratories and nutrition committees, after each Hajj season, embark on preparation for the upcoming season, by training staff, and distributing them as per requirement.
In a press conference held yesterday (Friday) at Mina Emergency Hospital revealed that the Nutrition General Department has assigned nutritionists to follow up the preparation of food, cleanliness and safety of staff.
Specific devices have been introduced in this year's Hajj season to measure the temperature of foods, in order to verify of the safety of food provided for pilgrims and health workers.
Dr. al-Esseimi mentioned also that the committee has distributed manpower of the seconded nursing staff in Makkah, Madinah and the Holy Sites. Their number during this Hajj season (1434H) is 5.910, of whom 3.837 are Saudis (2.180 males and 1.657 females).
The proportion of Saudi workers participating in Hajj is on the rise with the successive Hajj seasons. They are selected depending on their efficiency and experiences.
Besides, Dr. al-Esseimi indicated that the directors of nursing in the Holy Sites have been connected to senior officials for enquiries on the nursing staff, and reviewing and updating the Directory of Nursing Work Policies and Procedures, which identifies the tasks of the nursing commission during the Hajj season, as well as scheduling the meetings of the members of nursing committees at the nursing directorates of the Holy Sites, and coordination in the equipment of hospitals, and manpower distribution.
Also, field training courses have been held for the committee members at the Nursing Commission sites.
The Supervisory Committee of Laboratories and Blood Transfusion Services had verified of readiness of laboratories in Makkah and the Holy Sites right before the onset of the Hajj season.
It also named the workers, of all categories, nominated to work during the Hajj season, and developed a plan for moving them, according to the work requirements, and distributed them on the various sites.
That is to be added to conducting field tours to all the hospitals and laboratories of Makkah and the Holy Sites, to ensure they are ready.
As for the developments introduced during this year's Hajj season, a molecular screening unit for infectious diseases has been added to the laboratory of Mina al-Wadi Hospital, to examine infectious viruses (especially, coronavirus), in addition to satisfying the requirements of toxins and drugs examination for drivers of pilgrims buses.
As far as the blood banks are concerned, Dr. Munirah al-Esseimi has revealed that all the needed blood units have been provided.
Also, blood donation campaigns have been launched at the Holy Sites' hospitals, aside from designating a mobile clinic for blood donation.