Dr. Tarek bin Salem Al-Arnos, the Director-General of MOH Emergency; and the head of Emergency and Field Medicine Committee, pointed out that the medical teams in charge of the small ambulances, have overseen the onsite treatment of 2780 pilgrims on the Day of Tarwiah (watering; the eighth day of Dhul-Hijjah); and 76 cases have been transferred to the Holy Sites' hospitals.
On the Arafa Day, as many as 3638 pilgrims have been provided onsite treatment, while 93 cases have been transferred to the hospitals, at a rate less than 3% of the case total. “These teams,” he said, “are characterized by the ability to address all the medical emergency cases, and take the sound decision in all the circumstances requiring swift intervention.”
Dr. Al-Arnos added that these ambulances have accompanied the pilgrims in Mina on the Tarwiyah Day. And with the dawning of the Arafah Day (9th of Dhul-Hijjah) through, the medical crews staffing the ambulances embarked, along with pilgrims, on the flocking journey to Arafat, in all their whereabouts around Ar-Rahmah Mountain, and all the holy site of Arafat to provide the medical and emergency care for the pilgrims, and to transfer the emergency cases to the nearest hospital.
"These ambulances which are working around the clock consist of the two medical teams, each of which includes a physician and nurse well trained in the diagnosis and treatment of the emergency cases, in addition to providing the distinguished ambulatory medical services for pilgrims. These ambulances have been distributed to cover all areas of Arafat. They are also touring the camps to deal with any emergency cases when necessary," he elaborated.
They also accompany pilgrims along the Walkways on the first day of Tashriq; from Arafat to Muzdalifah and the Grand Mosque (Al-Masjid al-Ḥarām), then to Mina; as they are the only vehicles authorized to run on these routes to remain along on the Immolation Day and the three Tashriq Days (following the Immolation Day). They are also positioned around the Jamaraat Bridge in the north and south; and the streets leading to the Jamarat Bridge such as Souk Al-Arab Street, Al-Jawharah Street, El-Jadeed Street, and the King Fahad Road.
Dr. Al-Arnos pointed out that the small ambulances are equipped with the latest necessary medical devices to take care of the critical cases, such as heart monitor, defibrillator and respirator; in addition to all necessary drugs needed to provide onsite treatment to emergency cases, and then transfer whose health condition still requires further treatment to the hospitals of the Holy Site, as they are the only vehicles authorized to run on the pedestrian routes (Walkways) in the Holy Sites.
In addition, these ambulances are linked to Operations Management Room in the Emergency Complex in Al-Measam via wireless devices.
The room is staffed with an experienced team of technicians who direct the ambulances to their destinations through the shortest and quickest routes, besides providing the technical support for the medical team to deal with the emergency cases.
These rooms are also equipped with the latest vehicle tracking devices and GPS.
Thus, all these vehicles are monitored by a central monitoring station. In addition, drivers of such vehicles are directed to take the shortest routes to the health centers and hospitals of the Holy Sites. He added that this fleet is followed up on the ground by a group of filed supervisors on motorcycles to help these vehicles achieve their missions and provide them with the needed drugs and other medical supplies in their locations, besides helping them overcome any contingent problem.
Further, Dr. Al-Arnos said that the directives of His Excellency the Acting Minister of Health, Eng. Adel bin Mohamed Faqih, have placed particular emphasis on achieving the highest levels of quality in the ambulatory services provided for the pilgrims.
It should be noted, in this regard, that the Minister follows up on a daily basis the performance of these medical teams and the daily stats related to it; something which reflects his keenness to provide distinguished ambulatory services for pilgrims.
Concluding, Al-Arnos said that the human and material resources provided by the government will have - Allah willing - a great impact on developing the ambulatory medical services provided for pilgrims.