His Excellency the Acting Minister of Health, Eng. Adel Faqih, said that thanks to Allah, no infectious or epidemiological diseases have been reported amidst the pilgrims so far; “their health situations are reassuring, and they are in good health.”
He went on stressing the importance of intensifying efforts of those working for the health sectors which deliver their preventive and therapeutic medical services to the pilgrims. Similarly, he gave his orders to provide all the medicinal requirements and the necessary medical supplies for the hospitals and health centers harnessed for serving pilgrims in Makkah, the Holy Sites, Madinah and Jeddah.
He also touched upon the importance of the role played by the Ministry of Health (MOH) serving pilgrims, caring for their comfort and maintaining their health and safety.
During chairing the eighth meeting of the Hajj preparatory committees, held in his office in Jeddah, Monday morning, Eng. Faqih affirmed that the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz, and his Royal Highness the Crown Prince, May Allah protect them, follow steadily and continuously pilgrims' health situations.
This embodies the interest of the country’s prudent leadership in the pilgrims' safety and their health. The meeting, it is noteworthy, was attended by all the MOH officials and senior officers: chairmen of the preparatory and executive committees, heads of the main sectors in the MOH, Makkah and the Holy Sites, senior officers of the Command and Control Center.
In a similar fashion, during the meeting, Eng. Faqih listened to the reports submitted by the heads of committees, which included the latest achievements made by each committee regarding the work it is tasked with, and what has been provided for the Hajj performers in terms of the health services. He also assured that the health facilities (hospitals and health centers) in Makkah and the Holy Sites are ready for receiving pilgrims and providing the health care for them.
Present at the meeting were His Excellency the Vice Minister for Planning and Development, Dr. Mohammad bin Hamza Khoshaim; and heads of the Hajj committees, including the supportive technical services committee, medical supply and equipment committee, manpower committee, visiting manpower committee, financial affairs committee, follow-up and inventory monitoring committee, information technology and statistics committee, projects and engineering affairs committee, preventive medicine and infection control committee, supportive medical services committee (nursing, nutrition and laboratories), technical supervision committee (hospitals and health centers), public relations, media and health awareness committee, emergency and field medicine committee.
The meeting was attended, in addition, by the Supervisor-General of the Hajj and Umrah Health Services, Director-General of Makkah Health Affairs and Director-General of Madinah Health Affairs.