The Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz, May Allah protect him, has extended his thanks and appreciation to His Excellency the Minister of Health, Dr. Abdullah bin Abdulaziz Al-Rabeeah, and the employees of the Ministry of Health (MOH) for the success of the pilgrimage season of this year (1434H) after recording no epidemic or pandemic diseases.
In a telegram to Dr. Al-Rabeeah, the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques said, “We would like to thank you (Dr. Al-Rabeeah) and the workers of the health sector for your great efforts, noble feelings, and sincere prayers, calling upon our Almighty Allah to accept all of our deeds. He listens and responds.
For his part, Dr. Al-Rabeeah noted that he as well as all MOH employees would like to thank King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz, valuing the efforts exerted by the government of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques as well as His Royal Highness the Crown Prince and His Royal Highness the Second Deputy Prime Minister, May Allah protect them, for serving pilgrims and providing a healthy and safe atmosphere for them so that they can perform the Hajj rituals easily and conveniently.
In another telegram to the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, Dr. Al-Rabeeah said, “I am pleased to inform your Royal Majesty that the 1434-Hajj season was free of epidemic or pandemic diseases, and that pilgrims’ health status is in general reassuring, according to the results of the field survey and studying the general health status of the pilgrims, Praise and Gratitude be to Allah.”
It is noteworthy that the MOH has provided distinguished health services for pilgrims. The total number of pilgrims who have received services in hospitals and health centers has mounted to 1205880 pilgrims, while 4015 patients have been hospitalized. Furthermore, this year has witnessed performing more specific surgeries. The number of heart catheterization surgeries has reached 459 surgeries, in addition to 22 open-heart surgeries. The number of dialysis sessions was 1624, that is to be added to 106 endoscopy operations and 24 birth-giving cases.
The Ministry has also hired 22500 employees and health practitioner for serving pilgrims during the Hajj season of this year (1434H) through an integrated and comprehensive health system, consisting of 25 hospitals, 141 health centers and 175 ambulances used for field medicine. In addition, all the health facilities were equipped with the latest equipments so that they can provide pilgrims with emergency, curative, and preventive services, as well as health care around the clock.
Moreover, the capable inpatients, whose number reaches 345 male/female pilgrims, were taken from the hospitals of Makkah and Madinah to stand on Mount Arafat via special medical convoys, which sent them back again to the headquarters of hospitals.
The 90 medical teams working on small ambulances, which serve as mobile intensive care rooms, have treated and transported 16947 cases during the pilgrimage season of this year in the Holy Sites.